https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/smart-news/RSS feed for Smart NewsenMon, 14 Sep 2026 19:15:35 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/world-maps-might-soon-get-an-upgrade-the-united-nationas-votes-to-endorse-global-charts-that-better-represent-africas-true-size-180989495/The most widely used global map is almost 500 years old and was designed for navigation. But landmasses near the poles look larger than their actual relative sizes, and those near the equator look much smallerMon, 14 Sep 2026 19:15:35 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/world-maps-might-soon-get-an-upgrade-the-united-nationas-votes-to-endorse-global-charts-that-better-represent-africas-true-size-180989495/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/unsealed-for-the-first-time-in-600-years-this-tomb-in-peru-was-just-declared-the-discovery-of-the-decade-180989497/Archaeologists excavating Chan Chan, the capital of the pre-Inca Chimú civilization, found an undisturbed mausoleum that held the remains of at least 38 individuals, as well as a trove of rich funerary goodsMon, 14 Sep 2026 19:05:34 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/unsealed-for-the-first-time-in-600-years-this-tomb-in-peru-was-just-declared-the-discovery-of-the-decade-180989497/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-nine-stunning-images-from-this-years-ocean-photographer-of-the-year-contest-that-show-the-majesty-of-marine-life-180989489/From seahorse farewells to saving a stranded whale, the photos capture the diversity and beauty of sea creatures—but also the perils they faceMon, 14 Sep 2026 16:15:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-nine-stunning-images-from-this-years-ocean-photographer-of-the-year-contest-that-show-the-majesty-of-marine-life-180989489/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/princess-dianas-revenge-dress-is-heading-to-auction-for-the-first-time-in-nearly-30-years-180989492/The fashion icon wore the strapless silk frock the same day her then-estranged husband publicly admitted to having an affairMon, 14 Sep 2026 15:58:56 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/princess-dianas-revenge-dress-is-heading-to-auction-for-the-first-time-in-nearly-30-years-180989492/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/A-Rare-Nazi-Looted-Painting-lost-for-Some-80-Years-Turned-Up-in-a-Real-Estate-Listing-Now-a-Judge-Has-Ordered-It-Returned-to-Its-Rightful-Heirs-180989488/Missing since it was stolen in Amsterdam in 1945, Giacomo Ceruti’s ‘Portrait of a Lady’ will be restored to its true owners, a court in Argentina has ruled in a landmark decisionMon, 14 Sep 2026 14:29:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/A-Rare-Nazi-Looted-Painting-lost-for-Some-80-Years-Turned-Up-in-a-Real-Estate-Listing-Now-a-Judge-Has-Ordered-It-Returned-to-Its-Rightful-Heirs-180989488/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-an-elusive-and-ethereal-bigfin-squid-float-above-the-seafloor-off-central-california-180989491/This marks the first time the mysterious creature has been seen alive in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. It was spotted last month by scientists on an expedition to study marine life near underwater mountainsMon, 14 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/watch-an-elusive-and-ethereal-bigfin-squid-float-above-the-seafloor-off-central-california-180989491/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-find-a-trove-of-denisovan-fossils-and-tools-in-southwest-china-giving-an-unprecendented-glimpse-into-our-extinct-cousins-lives-180989483/Relatively few fossils belonging to the enigmatic early human have been unearthed in the past. Two new studies describe seven Denisovan fossils and more than 1,300 stone and bone toolsMon, 14 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-find-a-trove-of-denisovan-fossils-and-tools-in-southwest-china-giving-an-unprecendented-glimpse-into-our-extinct-cousins-lives-180989483/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-finnish-metal-detectorist-was-shocked-to-unearth-a-trove-of-viking-age-silver-in-his-hometown-then-his-detector-went-off-again-180989487/Weighing a combined ten pounds, the artifacts are estimated to be 1,000 years old and constitute Finland’s largest coin hoard of the eraFri, 11 Sep 2026 19:14:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-finnish-metal-detectorist-was-shocked-to-unearth-a-trove-of-viking-age-silver-in-his-hometown-then-his-detector-went-off-again-180989487/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-you-suffer-a-sweltering-august-you-werent-alone-it-tied-for-the-month-with-the-hottest-global-temperatures-on-record-180989482/Last month, the air temperature averaged 62.53 degrees Fahrenheit, tying with July 2023 as the toastiest month ever documented by the European Union's climate serviceFri, 11 Sep 2026 16:57:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-you-suffer-a-sweltering-august-you-werent-alone-it-tied-for-the-month-with-the-hottest-global-temperatures-on-record-180989482/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/designers-and-computer-scientists-create-new-decoy-fonts-that-humans-can-read-and-ai-bots-cannot-180989470/To prevent the trawling and theft of human writing, font-makers are employing both old and new illusions to outsmart large language modelsFri, 11 Sep 2026 16:08:08 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/designers-and-computer-scientists-create-new-decoy-fonts-that-humans-can-read-and-ai-bots-cannot-180989470/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-romes-largest-fresco-and-mosaic-complex-featuring-depictions-of-a-mysterious-maritime-city-opens-to-the-public-after-2000-years-180989484/The massive artworks, created in the first century C.E., were discovered in the 1990s during excavations of the Baths of TrajanFri, 11 Sep 2026 15:31:29 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-romes-largest-fresco-and-mosaic-complex-featuring-depictions-of-a-mysterious-maritime-city-opens-to-the-public-after-2000-years-180989484/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-the-worlds-oldest-evidence-of-habitual-drug-use-in-the-teeth-of-a-hunter-gatherer-who-lived-up-to-25000-years-ago-180989485/This individual may have regularly sucked on betel nuts, known for their mind-altering properties, leading to worsening dental disease. Researchers say the discovery sheds light on addiction in prehistoric environmentsFri, 11 Sep 2026 15:12:39 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-the-worlds-oldest-evidence-of-habitual-drug-use-in-the-teeth-of-a-hunter-gatherer-who-lived-up-to-25000-years-ago-180989485/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-decades-scientists-thought-an-american-cheetah-once-roamed-north-america-ancient-turns-out-the-extinct-cat-wasnt-a-cheetah-180989465/Ancient DNA from fossils found in Wyoming and Canada's Yukon Territory suggests the wild cat more closely resembled modern pumas than modern cheetahsFri, 11 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-decades-scientists-thought-an-american-cheetah-once-roamed-north-america-ancient-turns-out-the-extinct-cat-wasnt-a-cheetah-180989465/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-genetically-modified-pig-kidney-kept-a-man-alive-for-a-record-nine-months-allowing-him-to-wait-for-a-donated-human-organ-180989466/The animal organ kept Tim Andrews off dialysis for 271 days and represents the first time a pig kidney has been used as a bridge to human organ transplantationFri, 11 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-genetically-modified-pig-kidney-kept-a-man-alive-for-a-record-nine-months-allowing-him-to-wait-for-a-donated-human-organ-180989466/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-may-have-solved-a-longstanding-math-problem-with-a-million-dollar-prize-it-ignited-a-controversy-over-who-gets-credit-180989472/OpenAI announced a solution to the Navier-Stokes problem. But could its A.I. models have used data from two mathematicians working on a similar breakthrough?Thu, 10 Sep 2026 20:23:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-may-have-solved-a-longstanding-math-problem-with-a-million-dollar-prize-it-ignited-a-controversy-over-who-gets-credit-180989472/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/girl-scouts-of-america-announces-a-first-for-its-iconic-cookie-lineup-one-created-exclusively-for-dogs-180989479/For the first time in its 109-year history of cookie sales, the organization offers a custom-made sweet treat for four-legged friendsThu, 10 Sep 2026 19:28:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/girl-scouts-of-america-announces-a-first-for-its-iconic-cookie-lineup-one-created-exclusively-for-dogs-180989479/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/australias-second-smallest-rock-wallaby-reappears-in-a-region-where-it-had-not-been-seen-for-50-years-180989469/The endangered nabarlek is not easy to find and difficult to distinguish from similar species. But a research team made new detections of the animals that offer “good news for their long-term survival”Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:00:37 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/australias-second-smallest-rock-wallaby-reappears-in-a-region-where-it-had-not-been-seen-for-50-years-180989469/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-life-of-agatha-christie-the-worlds-best-selling-novelist-goes-under-the-microscope-at-the-british-library-180989480/An upcoming London exhibition will explore the breadth of Christie’s ‘remarkable’ experiences through letters, photographs, a typewriter and a replica of her Hawaiian surfboardThu, 10 Sep 2026 17:55:05 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-life-of-agatha-christie-the-worlds-best-selling-novelist-goes-under-the-microscope-at-the-british-library-180989480/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-tasmanian-tiger-was-branded-a-livestock-killer-new-research-challenges-that-myth-180989473/Thylacines had powerful snapping bites suited for catching small and medium-sized prey like bandicoots—not taking down large animals such as sheep and cattle, as European colonists fearedThu, 10 Sep 2026 17:43:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-tasmanian-tiger-was-branded-a-livestock-killer-new-research-challenges-that-myth-180989473/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-tip-of-this-snakes-tail-looks-like-a-spider-but-inside-its-bones-are-bizarrely-normal-180989478/High-tech scans reveal the first detailed look at the internal anatomy of the spider-tailed horned viper. The findings shed light on little-known snake vertebrae and highlight the difficulty of predicting what an animal looks like from its skeletonThu, 10 Sep 2026 16:06:57 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-tip-of-this-snakes-tail-looks-like-a-spider-but-inside-its-bones-are-bizarrely-normal-180989478/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-psychedelic-compound-found-in-magic-mushrooms-might-prevent-debilitating-nerve-damage-and-pain-caused-by-chemotherapy-180989457/A study in mice and human tissue suggests psilocybin protects against peripheral neuropathy, a common side effect of chemotherapy. The findings are so promising that researchers are starting a mid-stage clinical trial this yearThu, 10 Sep 2026 15:48:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-psychedelic-compound-found-in-magic-mushrooms-might-prevent-debilitating-nerve-damage-and-pain-caused-by-chemotherapy-180989457/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-uncover-a-neolithic-sculpture-of-a-human-riding-a-leopard-thats-unlike-anything-we-have-encountered-before-180989477/The artifact was found during excavations at Karahan Tepe, an 11,000-year-old site in southeastern Turkey. Created long before the invention of writing, the 2.3-foot-tall sculpture's purpose is a mysteryThu, 10 Sep 2026 14:09:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-uncover-a-neolithic-sculpture-of-a-human-riding-a-leopard-thats-unlike-anything-we-have-encountered-before-180989477/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-excavating-a-roman-era-cemetery-in-poland-were-surprised-to-stumble-upon-a-5000-year-old-necklace-made-of-42-teeth-180989471/Crafted from the teeth of large mammals, such as wolves, deer, bears and perhaps even humans, the jewelry was found in a grave in southern Poland that may belong to an important patriarch of the Corded Ware cultureWed, 09 Sep 2026 21:05:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-excavating-a-roman-era-cemetery-in-poland-were-surprised-to-stumble-upon-a-5000-year-old-necklace-made-of-42-teeth-180989471/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/to-researchers-surprise-this-giant-dinosaur-laid-eggs-in-a-cold-climate-180989474/A new study suggests that titanosaurs used rotting vegetation to keep their eggs warm much like crocodiles do todayWed, 09 Sep 2026 20:29:56 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/to-researchers-surprise-this-giant-dinosaur-laid-eggs-in-a-cold-climate-180989474/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-legendary-132-year-old-dime-recently-sold-for-more-than-12-million-at-auction-what-makes-it-so-extraordinary-180989476/Only 24 of the 1894-S Barber dimes were minted in San Francisco in June 1894, and just nine known specimens exist todayWed, 09 Sep 2026 19:33:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-legendary-132-year-old-dime-recently-sold-for-more-than-12-million-at-auction-what-makes-it-so-extraordinary-180989476/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-hospital-ship-sank-off-albania-coast-during-world-war-ii-now-its-teeming-with-marine-life-180989468/A new survey of the "Po" has revealed a thriving underwater ecosystem, including rare Mediterranean monk sealsWed, 09 Sep 2026 17:57:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-hospital-ship-sank-off-albania-coast-during-world-war-ii-now-its-teeming-with-marine-life-180989468/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/worlds-largest-collection-of-serial-killer-murderabilia-from-john-wayne-gacy-to-hh-holmes-opens-in-chicago-180989461/More than 2,000 items belonging or connected to some 150 serial killers from around the globe feature in a chilling new exhibitionWed, 09 Sep 2026 14:24:18 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/worlds-largest-collection-of-serial-killer-murderabilia-from-john-wayne-gacy-to-hh-holmes-opens-in-chicago-180989461/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stealing-candy-from-children-splash-proof-urinals-and-buried-panties-oh-my-here-are-the-winners-of-the-2026-ig-nobel-prizes-180989463/The awards are an unaffiliated spoof of the Nobel Prizes. They highlight research achievements that are surprising and silly-sounding—but also make people thinkTue, 08 Sep 2026 20:50:44 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stealing-candy-from-children-splash-proof-urinals-and-buried-panties-oh-my-here-are-the-winners-of-the-2026-ig-nobel-prizes-180989463/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thieves-broke-into-a-french-museum-and-made-off-with-renoir-paintings-worth-more-than-25-million-180989462/Early today, burglars stole four artworks from the Renoir Museum, in the French Riviera, only to drop two of them as they escapedTue, 08 Sep 2026 19:21:19 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thieves-broke-into-a-french-museum-and-made-off-with-renoir-paintings-worth-more-than-25-million-180989462/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-adorable-critically-endangered-pygmy-raccoons-in-cozumel-are-teaching-one-another-to-turn-trash-into-toy-balls-180989459/The observations offer rare evidence of a skill being passed among raccoons. But the work also highlights the effects of human pollution at the popular tourist destinationTue, 08 Sep 2026 18:49:50 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-adorable-critically-endangered-pygmy-raccoons-in-cozumel-are-teaching-one-another-to-turn-trash-into-toy-balls-180989459/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-may-have-finally-detected-a-hint-of-dark-matter-the-mysterious-invisible-stuff-that-holds-the-universe-together-180989440/A South Dakota-based instrument built to detect theoretical dark matter particles has sensed a particle interaction that's difficult to explain with known phenomena. But more data is needed to confirm that the strange substance—which scientists have never directly observed—is, indeed, the culpritTue, 08 Sep 2026 15:23:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-may-have-finally-detected-a-hint-of-dark-matter-the-mysterious-invisible-stuff-that-holds-the-universe-together-180989440/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/routine-yard-work-reveals-a-trove-of-viking-silver-the-largest-treasure-of-its-kind-ever-discovered-in-denmark-180989456/The collection includes coins, jewelry, silver bars and a tiny artifact shaped like Thor's hammer. Experts say the roughly 700 items were buried during the tenth centuryTue, 08 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/routine-yard-work-reveals-a-trove-of-viking-silver-the-largest-treasure-of-its-kind-ever-discovered-in-denmark-180989456/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-york-city-exhibition-celebrates-snoopys-enduring-influence-on-art-and-fashion-180989455/The beloved "Peanuts" character’s many costumes and brand collaborations are featured in a new showcaseFri, 04 Sep 2026 21:22:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-york-city-exhibition-celebrates-snoopys-enduring-influence-on-art-and-fashion-180989455/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/after-an-eight-year-journey-two-spacecraft-have-begun-their-arrival-to-mercury-the-inner-solar-systems-most-mysterious-planet-180989458/The BepiColombo mission, by the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, is only the third to study our smallest planetary neighborFri, 04 Sep 2026 18:48:20 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/after-an-eight-year-journey-two-spacecraft-have-begun-their-arrival-to-mercury-the-inner-solar-systems-most-mysterious-planet-180989458/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/GLP-1-weight-loss-drugs-can-slow-aging-and-extend-lifespan-mouse-study-suggests-180989452/Older female mice—equivalent in age to 60-year-old women—given daily injections of the active ingredient in Ozempic lived about 12 percent longer than animals that didn't receive the drugFri, 04 Sep 2026 15:16:21 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/GLP-1-weight-loss-drugs-can-slow-aging-and-extend-lifespan-mouse-study-suggests-180989452/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-does-rain-eat-through-protective-coatings-on-metal-structures-researchers-propose-a-new-idea-electrically-charged-droplets-180989434/Scientists long attributed rain damage to physical abrasion and chemical degradation from acidic substances. A new study offers a third idea, which could help researchers develop longer-lasting coatings and preserve important objectsFri, 04 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-does-rain-eat-through-protective-coatings-on-metal-structures-researchers-propose-a-new-idea-electrically-charged-droplets-180989434/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-determine-how-to-spot-fake-ancient-pottery-using-the-earths-magnetic-field-180989441/The magnetic North Pole has shifted over the millennia, leaving clues in the minerals that make up clay antiquitiesFri, 04 Sep 2026 11:45:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/researchers-determine-how-to-spot-fake-ancient-pottery-using-the-earths-magnetic-field-180989441/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/part-of-your-ersonality-is-encoded-in-your-genes-huge-analysis-links-characteristics-to-more-than-1200-common-genetic-variants-180989450/A new meta-analysis pooled data from more than one million people to look at the crossover between DNA and the "Big Five" personality traits: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticismFri, 04 Sep 2026 11:37:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/part-of-your-ersonality-is-encoded-in-your-genes-huge-analysis-links-characteristics-to-more-than-1200-common-genetic-variants-180989450/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-recreated-the-long-lost-chirps-of-jurassic-insects-listen-to-the-simulated-soundscape-of-165-million-years-ago-180989445/With artificial intelligence and careful modeling of fossilized wings, researchers reproduced how some extinct, katydid-like insects might have made noiseThu, 03 Sep 2026 20:08:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-recreated-the-long-lost-chirps-of-jurassic-insects-listen-to-the-simulated-soundscape-of-165-million-years-ago-180989445/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-lake-in-canada-got-a-mysterious-new-island-then-it-disappeared-and-now-its-back-180989442/The floating forest appeared in a well-mapped reservoir in British Columbia. Its presence and vanishing act have puzzled locals and officials at the power utility that operates the lake, but other similar islands exist elsewhereThu, 03 Sep 2026 19:15:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-lake-in-canada-got-a-mysterious-new-island-then-it-disappeared-and-now-its-back-180989442/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-mysterious-decagon-unexpectedly-appeared-around-saturns-south-pole-the-ten-sided-shape-seems-to-be-a-wave-in-the-atmosphere-180989449/Decades ago, scientists found a hexagon around Saturn’s north pole. Now, recent images reveal a decagon in the planet’s southern hemisphere—and it seems to have recently formedThu, 03 Sep 2026 19:01:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-mysterious-decagon-unexpectedly-appeared-around-saturns-south-pole-the-ten-sided-shape-seems-to-be-a-wave-in-the-atmosphere-180989449/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historic-trove-of-monets-renoirs-and-other-impressionist-masterpieces-expected-to-fetch-up-to-50-million-on-auction-block-this-fall-180989448/More than 60 paintings from the private estate of Paul Durand-Ruel, who shepherded Impressionism out from obscurity, will be up for saleThu, 03 Sep 2026 17:16:15 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historic-trove-of-monets-renoirs-and-other-impressionist-masterpieces-expected-to-fetch-up-to-50-million-on-auction-block-this-fall-180989448/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/leaf-peeping-season-is-almost-here-these-interactive-maps-can-help-you-figure-out-when-fall-foliage-will-peak-in-your-area-180989439/From the magnificent mountains of New England to the desert landscape of northern New Mexico, the tools can help you make the most of nature's upcoming wardrobe changeThu, 03 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/leaf-peeping-season-is-almost-here-these-interactive-maps-can-help-you-figure-out-when-fall-foliage-will-peak-in-your-area-180989439/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-20-breathtaking-bird-images-from-the-audubon-photography-awards-capture-the-wonder-of-the-winged-world-180989436/The winners of the 17th annual contest reveal the beauty of birds, the splendor of their migratory journeys and the risks they faceWed, 02 Sep 2026 19:48:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-20-breathtaking-bird-images-from-the-audubon-photography-awards-capture-the-wonder-of-the-winged-world-180989436/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/blue-crabs-have-taken-over-the-adriatic-sea-to-fight-them-off-italian-researchers-just-released-thousands-of-baby-octopuses-180989430/Although prized in the United States, the crustaceans have been decimating ecosystems and the fishing industry in Italy. Experts hope that an army of natural predators—common octopuses—can help contain the invasive species' spreadWed, 02 Sep 2026 18:48:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/blue-crabs-have-taken-over-the-adriatic-sea-to-fight-them-off-italian-researchers-just-released-thousands-of-baby-octopuses-180989430/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-a-4000-year-old-tomb-with-a-false-door-at-egypts-ancient-saqqara-necropolis-180989438/In addition to the tomb, which once belonged to a high-ranking official, excavations revealed a network of burial shafts that still held human remains and funerary objectsWed, 02 Sep 2026 18:43:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-a-4000-year-old-tomb-with-a-false-door-at-egypts-ancient-saqqara-necropolis-180989438/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/world-war-ii-sugar-rationing-data-hints-that-limiting-intake-of-the-sweet-stuff-early-in-life-lowers-the-risk-of-dementia-and-cancer-180989431/For roughly a decade leading up to September 1953, the United Kingdom limited sugar purchases. Scientists studied health outcomes in people born during the ration and right afterWed, 02 Sep 2026 15:48:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/world-war-ii-sugar-rationing-data-hints-that-limiting-intake-of-the-sweet-stuff-early-in-life-lowers-the-risk-of-dementia-and-cancer-180989431/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/corals-reveal-el-nino-events-have-become-stronger-in-recent-decades-probably-because-humans-have-been-heating-up-the-planet-180989432/Researchers used elements trapped within Galápagos corals to understand natural swings in the climate over the past millennium. They hint that variability has gone up over the past 40 years compared to preindustrial timesWed, 02 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/corals-reveal-el-nino-events-have-become-stronger-in-recent-decades-probably-because-humans-have-been-heating-up-the-planet-180989432/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/allergic-to-dogs-these-gene-edited-beagles-could-pave-the-way-to-your-dream-canine-companion-that-wont-trigger-sniffles-180989303/Geneticists altered Alfie and Bailey’s DNA so that they don't produce a major allergen. However, canines like them are not currently commercially available, and some experts express ethical concerns about altering the animals' genesTue, 01 Sep 2026 19:12:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/allergic-to-dogs-these-gene-edited-beagles-could-pave-the-way-to-your-dream-canine-companion-that-wont-trigger-sniffles-180989303/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-91-year-old-man-fell-71-times-while-hiking-appalachian-trail-he-just-became-oldest-person-complete-2190-mile-trek-180989428/Dale Sanders finished the hike in just under a year. Nicknamed "Grey Beard," he's no stranger to age-defying feats of enduranceTue, 01 Sep 2026 18:24:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-91-year-old-man-fell-71-times-while-hiking-appalachian-trail-he-just-became-oldest-person-complete-2190-mile-trek-180989428/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-frank-lloyd-wright-house-in-la-is-in-danger-of-demolition-by-neglect-say-advocates-180989429/The visionary designed this two-bedroom, one-bathroom in his affordable Usonian style. It’s the only house of its kind in L.A.Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:18:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-frank-lloyd-wright-house-in-la-is-in-danger-of-demolition-by-neglect-say-advocates-180989429/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mars-southern-half-is-weirdly-warm-underground-the-thermal-anomaly-might-explain-why-the-planets-hemispheres-look-so-different-180989424/Researchers used a novel technique to figure out what's going on inside the Red Planet. The work suggests that the interior of the southern hemisphere is hundreds of degrees hotter than that of the northern hemisphere and partially moltenTue, 01 Sep 2026 15:47:38 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mars-southern-half-is-weirdly-warm-underground-the-thermal-anomaly-might-explain-why-the-planets-hemispheres-look-so-different-180989424/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-ancient-insect-had-24-legs-and-could-help-explain-how-the-ancestors-of-modern-day-bugs-took-over-the-land-180989420/A previously undescribed critter that lived 324 million years ago appears to have been a transitional species that lived between land and sea. It could help researchers fill an 80-million-year gap in the fossil record of how crustaceans evolved into insectsTue, 01 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-ancient-insect-had-24-legs-and-could-help-explain-how-the-ancestors-of-modern-day-bugs-took-over-the-land-180989420/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/female-treefrogs-experience-choice-overload-amid-too-many-mating-calls-from-males-180989411/Faced with a chorus of potential mates, female Cope’s gray treefrogs may be overwhelmed by the number of options and struggle to make a careful decision, a study suggestsTue, 01 Sep 2026 13:42:53 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/female-treefrogs-experience-choice-overload-amid-too-many-mating-calls-from-males-180989411/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stones-from-one-of-henry-viiis-fortresses-spent-more-than-a-century-hidden-in-plain-sight-new-research-suggests-the-victorians-repurposed-them-as-building-materials-180989427/Recently discovered archival records indicate that workers constructing an extension of the Constable's Gate at Dover Castle in the late 19th century reused fragments of the Tudor-era Sandown CastleTue, 01 Sep 2026 12:52:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stones-from-one-of-henry-viiis-fortresses-spent-more-than-a-century-hidden-in-plain-sight-new-research-suggests-the-victorians-repurposed-them-as-building-materials-180989427/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-triggered-the-devastating-floods-in-nepal-and-tibet-and-are-we-due-for-more-in-the-future-heres-what-scientists-know-so-far-180989426/Natural hazards researchers suspect that a landslide involving a glacier triggered the event, and they say more could happen because of human-caused climate changeMon, 31 Aug 2026 20:50:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-triggered-the-devastating-floods-in-nepal-and-tibet-and-are-we-due-for-more-in-the-future-heres-what-scientists-know-so-far-180989426/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-digitally-reconstructed-face-of-an-ancient-man-who-witnessed-englands-greatest-upheaval-180989425/The so-called “Conquest Man” was buried in England in 1079, just over a decade into the reign of William the Conqueror. Researchers recently analyzed the skeleton’s DNA and teeth to learn more about himMon, 31 Aug 2026 20:35:48 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-digitally-reconstructed-face-of-an-ancient-man-who-witnessed-englands-greatest-upheaval-180989425/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-museum-in-northern-norway-is-bringing-visitors-into-the-world-of-whales-from-life-size-orcas-to-immersive-underwater-exhibits-180989421/Opening in 2027, The Whale will explore the science, behavior, evolution and cultural history of whales through art, storytelling, sound and architectureMon, 31 Aug 2026 17:57:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-museum-in-northern-norway-is-bringing-visitors-into-the-world-of-whales-from-life-size-orcas-to-immersive-underwater-exhibits-180989421/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thieves-steal-3000-year-old-treasure-in-a-super-professional-museum-heist-that-took-only-four-minutes-180989418/Officials were shaken after dozens of ancient artifacts vanished from the local archaeological museum in Villena, Spain. The thieves left only a few pieces from the Bronze Age treasure behindMon, 31 Aug 2026 17:11:11 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thieves-steal-3000-year-old-treasure-in-a-super-professional-museum-heist-that-took-only-four-minutes-180989418/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/emily-wilson-will-completely-re-translate-homers-odyssey-after-calling-christopher-nolan-blockbuster-film-abysmal-180989423/Nearly a decade after her acclaimed first translation was released, Wilson is taking a fresh approach to Homer's ancient Greek epicMon, 31 Aug 2026 16:21:17 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/emily-wilson-will-completely-re-translate-homers-odyssey-after-calling-christopher-nolan-blockbuster-film-abysmal-180989423/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/would-you-eat-a-cookie-made-from-upcycled-plastics-scientists-propose-a-new-way-to-deal-with-waste-and-provide-food-in-extreme-environments-180989413/A team of researchers programmed yeast to turn broken-down plastic and agricultural waste into sweet treats called µBites. They might come in handy during deep-space missions or in disaster zones, although some critics say the food is impracticalMon, 31 Aug 2026 15:42:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/would-you-eat-a-cookie-made-from-upcycled-plastics-scientists-propose-a-new-way-to-deal-with-waste-and-provide-food-in-extreme-environments-180989413/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-in-denmark-discover-rare-fragments-of-1300-year-old-clothing-preserved-inside-viking-age-grave-180989419/Researchers found the textile traces on a pair of metal brooches. When the accessories corroded, they released metallic salts that inadvertently preserved the fabric for centuriesMon, 31 Aug 2026 14:52:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-in-denmark-discover-rare-fragments-of-1300-year-old-clothing-preserved-inside-viking-age-grave-180989419/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-newly-discovered-fuzzy-fish-species-named-after-mr-snuffleupagus-from-sesame-street-180988774/The ghost pipefish's scruffy appearance probably helps it look like floating algae, allowing it to blend in with its environment. Researchers had been on the hunt for this strange creature for years after first spotting one more than two decades agoMon, 31 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-newly-discovered-fuzzy-fish-species-named-after-mr-snuffleupagus-from-sesame-street-180988774/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nasas-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-launches-to-find-exoplanets-and-unravel-mysteries-of-dark-matter-and-dark-energy-180989268/The new observatory will complete three surveys of the universe in five years, although it's designed to function at least twice as long. Its data could change scientists' basic understanding of the cosmosSun, 30 Aug 2026 11:26:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nasas-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-launches-to-find-exoplanets-and-unravel-mysteries-of-dark-matter-and-dark-energy-180989268/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/forests-didnt-fare-well-during-an-ancient-global-warming-event-offering-a-cautionary-tale-about-todays-climate-change-180989353/An intense global warming event 56 million years ago caused a forest in modern-day Wyoming to lose around 60 percent of its canopy cover, and it took more than 100,000 years to bounce back, a study suggestsFri, 28 Aug 2026 18:43:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/forests-didnt-fare-well-during-an-ancient-global-warming-event-offering-a-cautionary-tale-about-todays-climate-change-180989353/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/deep-inside-spanish-cave-roman-women-may-have-worshipped-mysterious-goddess-180989414/Best known for its Paleolithic art, Valencia’s Cova de les Dones also contains a Roman sanctuary where researchers say women appear to have played an active role in the worship of a female deityFri, 28 Aug 2026 18:43:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/deep-inside-spanish-cave-roman-women-may-have-worshipped-mysterious-goddess-180989414/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historical-pollution-not-current-industrial-emissions-damaged-worlds-largest-oldest-collection-ancient-rock-art-180989416/Researchers say that past exposure to sulfur dioxide is likely to blame for the increased porosity of the Murujuga rock art created by the Ngarda-Ngarli people tens of thousands of years agoFri, 28 Aug 2026 18:04:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historical-pollution-not-current-industrial-emissions-damaged-worlds-largest-oldest-collection-ancient-rock-art-180989416/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-star-orbits-our-galaxys-heart-at-a-record-breaking-speed-and-could-help-uncover-secrets-about-the-behemoth-black-hole-there-180989393/The speedster travels at up to 56 million miles per hour, or about 8 percent the speed of light. It also gets very close to the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky WayFri, 28 Aug 2026 15:45:08 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-star-orbits-our-galaxys-heart-at-a-record-breaking-speed-and-could-help-uncover-secrets-about-the-behemoth-black-hole-there-180989393/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-landlord-found-a-peculiar-print-hanging-in-a-vacant-apartment-it-turned-out-to-be-an-original-picasso-print-that-had-been-missing-for-eight-years-180989417/When "Torero" vanished from a Milwaukee art gallery in 2018, the owners didn't know whether they'd ever see it again. The man who found the etching turned it over to the police earlier this monthFri, 28 Aug 2026 15:37:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-landlord-found-a-peculiar-print-hanging-in-a-vacant-apartment-it-turned-out-to-be-an-original-picasso-print-that-had-been-missing-for-eight-years-180989417/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-fruit-is-scarce-these-monkeys-hunt-animals-the-behavior-may-offer-clues-about-the-origins-of-humans-meat-eating-habits-180989412/The bearded capuchins of northeastern Brazil typically eat plant-based foods, but they turn to small vertebrates when those sources are limited. Our ancestors may have done the same, eventually allowing predatory behaviors to be more frequently passed on in our lineageFri, 28 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-fruit-is-scarce-these-monkeys-hunt-animals-the-behavior-may-offer-clues-about-the-origins-of-humans-meat-eating-habits-180989412/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/snails-can-make-their-slime-sticky-slippery-foamy-or-hard-depending-on-their-needs-heres-how-they-tweak-their-multipurpose-mucus-180989361/The critters can alter the proportions of calcium and collagen in the versatile substance, which changes the protein structure. The different textures can help snails glide, climb or protect themselvesThu, 27 Aug 2026 20:04:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/snails-can-make-their-slime-sticky-slippery-foamy-or-hard-depending-on-their-needs-heres-how-they-tweak-their-multipurpose-mucus-180989361/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1800-people-pull-a-400-ton-japanese-castle-keep-back-toward-its-original-location-after-a-decade-of-restoration-work-180989401/The chance to help move the castle keep drew thousands of applications from Japan and abroad. Groups of lottery winners took turns tugging on thick ropes attached to the massive structureThu, 27 Aug 2026 19:43:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1800-people-pull-a-400-ton-japanese-castle-keep-back-toward-its-original-location-after-a-decade-of-restoration-work-180989401/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-are-mel-brooks-favorite-movies-to-celebrate-100th-birthday-comedy-legend-picks-20-films-to-screen-across-los-angeles-180989410/The eclectic program spans decades and genres, offering glimpses into Brooks’ comedic influences, personal history and enduring love of filmThu, 27 Aug 2026 19:23:15 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-are-mel-brooks-favorite-movies-to-celebrate-100th-birthday-comedy-legend-picks-20-films-to-screen-across-los-angeles-180989410/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historic-alabama-hotel-linked-civil-rights-movement-is-falling-apart-can-conservationists-fighting-to-save-it-turn-the-tide-180989407/Selma's Edistone Hotel has witnessed pivotal chapters in American history, from Reconstruction to "Bloody Sunday." Now, after years of neglect and a recent wall collapse, the Conservation Fund is working to secure its futureThu, 27 Aug 2026 18:35:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historic-alabama-hotel-linked-civil-rights-movement-is-falling-apart-can-conservationists-fighting-to-save-it-turn-the-tide-180989407/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-was-this-17th-century-polish-woman-buried-with-a-padlock-on-her-toe-and-an-iron-sickle-across-her-neck-180989408/New research suggests that the people who buried the young woman took precautionary measures to stop her from coming back to life and exacting revenge on themThu, 27 Aug 2026 17:51:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-was-this-17th-century-polish-woman-buried-with-a-padlock-on-her-toe-and-an-iron-sickle-across-her-neck-180989408/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/paleontologists-discover-a-new-species-of-ice-age-toad-at-the-la-brea-tar-pits-offering-clues-about-the-areas-ancient-climate-180989390/The fossilized remains, recovered in 1929, were part of La Brea's relatively understudied amphibian collection. Since toads are cold-blooded and sensitive to environmental changes, the discovery can help researchers piece together past climate conditionsThu, 27 Aug 2026 15:37:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/paleontologists-discover-a-new-species-of-ice-age-toad-at-the-la-brea-tar-pits-offering-clues-about-the-areas-ancient-climate-180989390/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/freddie-mercurys-boundary-pushing-costumes-take-center-stage-at-victoria-and-albert-museum-to-mark-80th-anniversary-his-birth-180989403/Eight ensembles from the Queen frontman's career will be displayed across six stops in the London museum's permanent galleries, offering a glimpse into the clothes behind his legendary stage personaThu, 27 Aug 2026 14:34:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/freddie-mercurys-boundary-pushing-costumes-take-center-stage-at-victoria-and-albert-museum-to-mark-80th-anniversary-his-birth-180989403/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/at-least-one-in-four-former-nfl-players-who-died-between-2016-and-2021-had-the-progressive-brain-disease-cte-study-suggests-180989406/The true prevalence of the neurodegenerative disease—which is associated with repeated head injuries—among the deceased football players might be much higher. CTE affects other athletes too, including hockey players, soccer players and wrestlersThu, 27 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/at-least-one-in-four-former-nfl-players-who-died-between-2016-and-2021-had-the-progressive-brain-disease-cte-study-suggests-180989406/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-the-first-time-a-selection-of-islamic-masterpieces-from-the-louvre-is-coming-to-the-united-states-see-the-treasures-soon-to-be-displayed-at-the-smithsonians-national-museum-of-asian-art-180989402/Twenty-six works spanning many centuries and regions will form the September exhibition titled "From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art"Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:00:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-the-first-time-a-selection-of-islamic-masterpieces-from-the-louvre-is-coming-to-the-united-states-see-the-treasures-soon-to-be-displayed-at-the-smithsonians-national-museum-of-asian-art-180989402/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/turn-your-eyes-to-the-night-skies-this-week-to-see-a-near-total-lunar-eclipse-itll-temporarily-turn-the-moon-red-180989404/During the peak, 96 percent of the moon will be within the darkest part of our planet's shadow. The orb will take on an eerie glow because of how sunlight gets filtered through Earth's atmosphereWed, 26 Aug 2026 18:57:29 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/turn-your-eyes-to-the-night-skies-this-week-to-see-a-near-total-lunar-eclipse-itll-temporarily-turn-the-moon-red-180989404/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brittle-coating-on-2200-year-old-roman-shipwreck-revealing-how-ancient-soliders-kept-ships-afloat-180989394/Traces of pine tar and beeswax preserved on the vessel reveal the painstaking techniques shipbuilders millennia ago used to protect their ships from the briny deepWed, 26 Aug 2026 18:45:17 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brittle-coating-on-2200-year-old-roman-shipwreck-revealing-how-ancient-soliders-kept-ships-afloat-180989394/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-16-stunning-animal-images-from-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-awards-180989397/Now in its 62nd year, the famed competition has released a sneak peek of the entries from this contest ahead of announcing the winners in OctoberWed, 26 Aug 2026 18:28:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-16-stunning-animal-images-from-the-wildlife-photographer-of-the-year-awards-180989397/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-medieval-manuscript-fragments-were-reused-as-parchment-inadvertently-preserving-them-for-centuries-180989398/Recently discovered on Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, the pages include Bible passages, poems, plays and other texts. They were repurposed as book bindings during the 16th and 17th centuriesWed, 26 Aug 2026 18:20:50 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-medieval-manuscript-fragments-were-reused-as-parchment-inadvertently-preserving-them-for-centuries-180989398/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/soccer-ball-used-for-diego-maradona-hand-of-god-world-cup-goal-sells-at-auction-180989392/Despite its role in one of the most famous games in soccer history, the historic piece of sports memorabilia fell short of its $10 million pre-sale estimateWed, 26 Aug 2026 17:02:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/soccer-ball-used-for-diego-maradona-hand-of-god-world-cup-goal-sells-at-auction-180989392/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-deadly-shellfish-poisoning-has-no-antidote-a-protein-found-in-american-bullfrogs-could-change-that-180989365/A study in mice found that a protein called saxiphilin acts like a sponge against a deadly toxin produced by algal blooms. The harmful agent, which accumulates in certain seafood, can cause a life-threatening illness called paralytic shellfish poisoningWed, 26 Aug 2026 15:39:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-deadly-shellfish-poisoning-has-no-antidote-a-protein-found-in-american-bullfrogs-could-change-that-180989365/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-telescope-still-under-construction-accidentally-reveals-how-a-dying-star-returns-matter-to-space-180989349/Researchers captured an unprecedented image of the stellar recycling process while calibrating a Chile-based instrument called MOTHRA, which is expected to be complete by the end of 2026Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-telescope-still-under-construction-accidentally-reveals-how-a-dying-star-returns-matter-to-space-180989349/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hunger-stones-resurface-europe-bringing-centuries-old-warnings-back-into-view-rivers-hit-historic-lows-180989387/As drought exposes stretches of riverbed in central Europe, markers carved by past generations to record low water levels are emerging once againWed, 26 Aug 2026 11:45:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hunger-stones-resurface-europe-bringing-centuries-old-warnings-back-into-view-rivers-hit-historic-lows-180989387/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cast-your-vote-for-the-chunkiest-alpine-rodent-during-colorados-first-ever-fat-marmot-week-180989395/The inaugural competition puts eight yellow-bellied marmots head-to-head while shining a light on the science behind their seasonal weight gain and survival at high elevationsTue, 25 Aug 2026 19:33:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cast-your-vote-for-the-chunkiest-alpine-rodent-during-colorados-first-ever-fat-marmot-week-180989395/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-statue-honors-moby-dick-author-herman-melville-in-the-massachusetts-city-where-his-whaling-adventures-began-180989388/The 7.5-foot-tall bronze artwork stands in the heart of historic New Bedford, the 19th-century whaling port that inspired the author's famous 1851 novelTue, 25 Aug 2026 17:57:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-statue-honors-moby-dick-author-herman-melville-in-the-massachusetts-city-where-his-whaling-adventures-began-180989388/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/human-skeleton-found-inside-mysterious-stone-structure-in-scotland-archaeologists-still-dont-know-why-it-was-buried-there-180989391/Built with fitted stone and a clay-like material that may have helped retain liquid, the unusual structure has left researchers searching for an explanationTue, 25 Aug 2026 17:51:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/human-skeleton-found-inside-mysterious-stone-structure-in-scotland-archaeologists-still-dont-know-why-it-was-buried-there-180989391/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-tiny-shrews-grow-bigger-snouts-and-shrink-their-brains-to-survive-harsh-winters-study-suggests-180989369/Scientists have long known that some small mammals reduce their brain size during cold months and regrow them in the spring. Long-clawed shrews from Hokkaido, Japan, seem to follow that pattern—while their noses surprisingly do the oppositeTue, 25 Aug 2026 15:36:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-tiny-shrews-grow-bigger-snouts-and-shrink-their-brains-to-survive-harsh-winters-study-suggests-180989369/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-rock-art-in-china-has-remained-bright-red-for-nearly-2000-years-how-the-secret-ingredient-might-be-blood-180989389/A new study offers clues about how the Luoyue people created rock paintings in what’s now southern China. The murals have somehow been durable enough to withstand rain, heat, wind and humidity for centuriesTue, 25 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-rock-art-in-china-has-remained-bright-red-for-nearly-2000-years-how-the-secret-ingredient-might-be-blood-180989389/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-france-brutal-summer-heat-waves-taking-toll-on-flowers-that-inspired-claude-monet-most-beloved-paintings-180989384/The colorful nasturtiums at the artist's house and gardens have been hit particularly hard this summer as France grapples with a record 52 heatwave daysMon, 24 Aug 2026 20:06:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-france-brutal-summer-heat-waves-taking-toll-on-flowers-that-inspired-claude-monet-most-beloved-paintings-180989384/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/only-one-of-its-kind-jellyfish-museum-opens-in-florida-astounds-visitors-awe-inspiring-displays-nettles-safely-behind-glass-180989381/The museum opened in the spring and was founded by two aquarium experts who fled the Russia-Ukraine warMon, 24 Aug 2026 17:55:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/only-one-of-its-kind-jellyfish-museum-opens-in-florida-astounds-visitors-awe-inspiring-displays-nettles-safely-behind-glass-180989381/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-15-foot-python-is-the-first-known-snake-to-receive-electrochemotherapy-for-cancer-now-shes-officially-free-of-the-disease-180989385/The pioneering treatment makes it easier for traditional chemotherapy drugs to penetrate cancer cells. After the procedure, the reptile, named Jodie Foster, made a speedy recoveryMon, 24 Aug 2026 17:31:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-15-foot-python-is-the-first-known-snake-to-receive-electrochemotherapy-for-cancer-now-shes-officially-free-of-the-disease-180989385/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/closed-to-public-since-wwii-hidden-gallery-at-london-natural-history-museum-opens-doors-once-again-180989380/Animal skeletons, Neolithic tools and pop culture memorabilia are among the dozens of objects to be displayed in the reopened “Nature and Us” exhibitionMon, 24 Aug 2026 17:18:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/closed-to-public-since-wwii-hidden-gallery-at-london-natural-history-museum-opens-doors-once-again-180989380/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/centuries-ago-europeans-plagued-constant-flooding-16-major-events-killed-thousands-over-course-three-years-180989378/When researchers went looking for information about the legendary Magdalena Flood, they were surprised to discover that it was just one of many extreme weather events that ravaged the region in the early 1340sMon, 24 Aug 2026 16:43:17 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/centuries-ago-europeans-plagued-constant-flooding-16-major-events-killed-thousands-over-course-three-years-180989378/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-used-ai-too-design-new-viruses-the-technology-could-be-a-boon-for-medicine-but-experts-worry-about-harmful-pathogens-180989336/The findings represent the first genomes, or complete genetic instruction books, designed entirely with generative A.I. The resulting viruses attack only bacteria, which could one day help overcome the problem of antibiotic-resistant microbesMon, 24 Aug 2026 16:08:42 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-used-ai-too-design-new-viruses-the-technology-could-be-a-boon-for-medicine-but-experts-worry-about-harmful-pathogens-180989336/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-personalized-cancer-vaccine-could-keep-skin-cancer-from-coming-back-drugmakers-say-180989382/The results, announced this week by Moderna and Merck, could pave the way for a new generation of treatments tailored to individual tumorsFri, 21 Aug 2026 18:16:21 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-personalized-cancer-vaccine-could-keep-skin-cancer-from-coming-back-drugmakers-say-180989382/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shipwreck-hunters-discover-the-ruins-of-a-british-destroyer-that-split-in-half-during-a-tragic-peacetime-accident-118-years-ago-180989379/Minutes after it collided with a 10,000-ton cruiser, the HMS "Tiger" sank to the bottom of the English Channel. Divers and historians have spent the past four years searching for the Royal Navy vesselFri, 21 Aug 2026 18:04:39 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shipwreck-hunters-discover-the-ruins-of-a-british-destroyer-that-split-in-half-during-a-tragic-peacetime-accident-118-years-ago-180989379/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-gave-dogs-mris-and-learned-that-theyre-surprisingly-good-at-distinguishing-between-human-emotions-even-some-negative-ones-180989329/A recent study found that man’s best friend processes positive and negative human emotions differently and can distinguish between fearful faces and those showing sadness or angerFri, 21 Aug 2026 15:58:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-gave-dogs-mris-and-learned-that-theyre-surprisingly-good-at-distinguishing-between-human-emotions-even-some-negative-ones-180989329/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-extremely-rare-half-male-half-female-bird-temporarily-took-up-residence-outside-of-chicago-180989377/The unusual-looking bobolink is what's called a bilateral gynandromorph. The bird behaved like a male, eventually wooing a mate and raising fledglingsFri, 21 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-extremely-rare-half-male-half-female-bird-temporarily-took-up-residence-outside-of-chicago-180989377/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/extremely-rare-artworks-from-17th-century-drawing-book-were-astonishingly-well-preserved-now-they-are-on-display-for-first-time-in-nearly-century-180989374/Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum acquired the drawing book, which has artwork attributed to Rombout Uylenburgh, a celebrated 17th-century Dutch painter whose legacy later fell into obscurityFri, 21 Aug 2026 12:00:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/extremely-rare-artworks-from-17th-century-drawing-book-were-astonishingly-well-preserved-now-they-are-on-display-for-first-time-in-nearly-century-180989374/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nasa-funded-mission-to-rescue-a-falling-space-telescope-officially-ends-in-failure-180989376/The commercial LINK spacecraft was supposed to give NASA's Swift observatory a boost, pushing it higher into orbit to extend its life. But after launch, LINK experienced several problems. Swift is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up by the end of this yearThu, 20 Aug 2026 19:35:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nasa-funded-mission-to-rescue-a-falling-space-telescope-officially-ends-in-failure-180989376/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-should-the-bayeux-tapestry-end-new-a-competition-invites-childresn-to-reimagine-its-missing-final-panel-180989366/Some historians think the 230-foot-long artwork is missing its final panel, which may have once depicted William the Conqueror's coronation. As the tapestry goes on view in London, students will be drafting endings of their ownThu, 20 Aug 2026 15:50:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-should-the-bayeux-tapestry-end-new-a-competition-invites-childresn-to-reimagine-its-missing-final-panel-180989366/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/narwhals-sport-iconic-straight-spiraled-tusks-scientists-just-uncovered-some-of-the-eye-catching-features-structural-secrets-180989368/The Arctic whales are the only known animals with straight tusks, and ones that consistently twist to the left. New research reveals that the inner layer twists to the right and that the opposing spirals provide strength and help the tusks grow straightThu, 20 Aug 2026 15:11:05 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/narwhals-sport-iconic-straight-spiraled-tusks-scientists-just-uncovered-some-of-the-eye-catching-features-structural-secrets-180989368/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/construction-in-austria-revealed-roman-era-mass-grave-beneath-soccer-field-new-research-suggests-that-the-mens-enemies-targeted-their-sensitive-areas-180989372/No written records mention a fight in this specific part of Vienna at the time of the men's deaths. But the brutal nature of their injuries, particularly to the pelvis area, indicates that these individuals died on the battlefieldThu, 20 Aug 2026 15:06:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/construction-in-austria-revealed-roman-era-mass-grave-beneath-soccer-field-new-research-suggests-that-the-mens-enemies-targeted-their-sensitive-areas-180989372/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/irelands-kerry-cow-bones-are-actually-wild-boar-and-bear-shaking-up-the-story-of-farmings-arrival-on-the-island-180989371/The bones were discovered on the Dingle Peninsula more than 30 years ago, but scientists recently decided to take another look at them, this time using modern techniquesThu, 20 Aug 2026 14:40:44 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/irelands-kerry-cow-bones-are-actually-wild-boar-and-bear-shaking-up-the-story-of-farmings-arrival-on-the-island-180989371/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-have-found-thousands-of-intact-ancient-human-brains-scientists-say-theyve-figured-out-why-the-organs-dont-always-rot-180989370/Under the right conditions—wet and oxygen-deprived—the same chemical reactions that cause tissue to break down can instead have the opposite effect, according to a new studyThu, 20 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-have-found-thousands-of-intact-ancient-human-brains-scientists-say-theyve-figured-out-why-the-organs-dont-always-rot-180989370/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-dont-insects-live-in-the-ocean-scientists-just-ruled-out-one-possible-explanation-thanks-to-deep-diving-fly-larvae-180989348/Researchers thought that insects might not live there because their respiratory systems would implode from water pressure. But certain fly larvae in East Africa make daily trips toward the bottom of Lake Malawi with the help of strong air sacs that contain a stretchy proteinWed, 19 Aug 2026 20:52:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-dont-insects-live-in-the-ocean-scientists-just-ruled-out-one-possible-explanation-thanks-to-deep-diving-fly-larvae-180989348/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-towering-182-feet-tall-statue-in-rural-poland-now-tallest-virgin-mary-in-europe-locals-hope-it-will-become-tourist-destination-180989364/The steel and concrete monument honoring the mother of Jesus is located in Konotopie, a rural village about 100 miles from WarsawWed, 19 Aug 2026 17:07:11 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-towering-182-feet-tall-statue-in-rural-poland-now-tallest-virgin-mary-in-europe-locals-hope-it-will-become-tourist-destination-180989364/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-are-some-octopuses-so-smart-the-answer-might-lie-in-a-never-before-seen-mutation-that-helps-them-accurately-build-proteins-180989319/Scientists discovered a strange feature in certain octopuses’ ribosomal RNA, molecules that create a 3D scaffold for cellular protein factories. It was found only in shallow-water creatures that have expanded nervous systems and can do complex behaviorsWed, 19 Aug 2026 16:00:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-are-some-octopuses-so-smart-the-answer-might-lie-in-a-never-before-seen-mutation-that-helps-them-accurately-build-proteins-180989319/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brazils-first-urban-yellow-fever-outbreak-in-nearly-a-century-may-have-been-fueled-by-a-surprising-culprit-180989363/Extremely wet conditions are known to help spread mosquito-borne diseases like yellow fever. But based on computer simulations, researchers suspect that a severe drought may have contributed to the South American country’s recent deadly epidemicWed, 19 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brazils-first-urban-yellow-fever-outbreak-in-nearly-a-century-may-have-been-fueled-by-a-surprising-culprit-180989363/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-now-see-one-of-oldest-surviving-copies-of-the-odyssey-at-metropolitan-museum-of-art-180989360/The papyrus fragment contains three lines that don't appear in standard modern-day translations of Homer's epic poemWed, 19 Aug 2026 13:19:26 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/you-can-now-see-one-of-oldest-surviving-copies-of-the-odyssey-at-metropolitan-museum-of-art-180989360/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/do-monkeys-keep-pets-study-finds-widespread-primate-interactions-with-other-animal-species-from-mice-to-deer-180989356/This social behavior might reveal the evolutionary roots of traits that underlie pet-keeping in humans, scientists say, from caregiving to tolerance and curiosity. But it's not the same as a person keeping a cat or a dogTue, 18 Aug 2026 20:22:41 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/do-monkeys-keep-pets-study-finds-widespread-primate-interactions-with-other-animal-species-from-mice-to-deer-180989356/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-newly-approved-narcolepsy-drug-is-the-first-to-target-the-sleep-disorders-root-cause-rather-than-its-symptoms-180989362/The Food and Drug Administration just greenlit a medication called Orzeyful for the treatment of narcolepsy type 1 in adults. The condition is caused by the loss of brain cells that produce orexin, a chemical important for regulating the sleep-wake cycleTue, 18 Aug 2026 19:18:35 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-newly-approved-narcolepsy-drug-is-the-first-to-target-the-sleep-disorders-root-cause-rather-than-its-symptoms-180989362/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/inside-fight-to-save-300-year-old-tree-that-survived-revolutionary-war-battle-180989357/Arborists are working to preserve the 45-foot-tall live oak in South Carolina's Eutaw Springs Battlefield Park. The historic tree suffered damage during a lightning strike 50 years agoTue, 18 Aug 2026 15:50:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/inside-fight-to-save-300-year-old-tree-that-survived-revolutionary-war-battle-180989357/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stolen-masterpieces-worth-10-million-discovered-in-a-cardboard-box-months-after-thieves-snuck-into-a-museum-and-whisked-them-away-into-the-night-180989358/The artworks by Cézanne, Renoir and Matisse disappeared in a three-minute heist earlier this year. Now, police have arrested five suspects in connection with the burglary in northern ItalyTue, 18 Aug 2026 15:24:39 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stolen-masterpieces-worth-10-million-discovered-in-a-cardboard-box-months-after-thieves-snuck-into-a-museum-and-whisked-them-away-into-the-night-180989358/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-coral-reefs-off-west-africa-were-long-presumed-dead-scientists-just-found-them-alive-and-teeming-with-life-180989350/Fish surveys in the 1960s detected what experts thought was a dead coral reef barrier off the country of Benin. Decades later, researchers set off in small fishing boats to investigate it using sonar mapping, underwater drone surveys and stationary video recordersTue, 18 Aug 2026 14:34:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-coral-reefs-off-west-africa-were-long-presumed-dead-scientists-just-found-them-alive-and-teeming-with-life-180989350/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/avoiding-these-three-vascular-health-risk-factors-in-midlife-can-help-you-delay-dementia-for-about-13-years-study-suggests-180989354/High blood pressure, diabetes and smoking are three major modifiable risk factors of dementia. New research tracked more than 12,000 participants to quantify how many years of healthy cognitive function you can gain by evading some or all of them during middle ageTue, 18 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/avoiding-these-three-vascular-health-risk-factors-in-midlife-can-help-you-delay-dementia-for-about-13-years-study-suggests-180989354/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/as-sicilians-flocked-to-religious-festival-thieves-broke-into-nearby-museum-stole-four-renaissance-paintings-180989352/The missing works include three panels from a 15th-century altarpiece by Antonello da Messina, as well as a two-sided devotional painting by the artistMon, 17 Aug 2026 19:36:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/as-sicilians-flocked-to-religious-festival-thieves-broke-into-nearby-museum-stole-four-renaissance-paintings-180989352/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-a-first-astronomers-may-have-spotted-a-galaxy-in-the-early-universe-with-three-behemoth-black-holes-180989344/The galaxy’s light took about 12.5 billion years to reach the James Webb Space Telescope, meaning the instrument saw the black holes a little more than one billion years after the Big Bang. Two of the black holes seemed on track to merge, illustrating how the objects growMon, 17 Aug 2026 19:13:48 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-a-first-astronomers-may-have-spotted-a-galaxy-in-the-early-universe-with-three-behemoth-black-holes-180989344/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-did-animals-start-giving-birth-to-live-young-this-236-million-year-old-fossil-might-rewrite-mammals-evolutionary-history-180989343/A bone feature found in a mammal ancestor hints that the creature was relatively large as a newborn, more in line with the size of a creature birthed live than hatched from an egg. Still, it provides only indirect evidenceMon, 17 Aug 2026 16:23:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/when-did-animals-start-giving-birth-to-live-young-this-236-million-year-old-fossil-might-rewrite-mammals-evolutionary-history-180989343/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-couple-found-a-mysterious-150-pound-sculpture-buried-in-their-backyard-now-theyre-trying-to-figure-out-who-made-it-180989347/After discovering a large limestone bust on their San Francisco property in May, Greg Gatwood and Judy Gittelsohn have spent the past few months trying to unravel its backstoryMon, 17 Aug 2026 14:33:57 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-couple-found-a-mysterious-150-pound-sculpture-buried-in-their-backyard-now-theyre-trying-to-figure-out-who-made-it-180989347/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/listen-up-parents-running-with-a-stroller-might-make-you-less-prone-to-overuse-injuries-180989345/Runners often experience conditions like shin splints, runner’s knee and plantar fasciitis, which causes pain in the bottom of the heel. But pushing a stroller’s handlebar seems to make you distribute your weight differentlyMon, 17 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/listen-up-parents-running-with-a-stroller-might-make-you-less-prone-to-overuse-injuries-180989345/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/covid-19-can-reawaken-dormant-viruses-in-the-body-which-might-worsen-symptoms-of-the-respiratory-illness-study-suggests-180989322/Most people carry a sleeping virus in their bodies, such as the herpesvirus that causes mononucleosis, or the “kissing disease.” A new study hints that Covid-19 triggers their reactivation, which could worsen symptoms and increase the risk of long CovidFri, 14 Aug 2026 20:06:16 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/covid-19-can-reawaken-dormant-viruses-in-the-body-which-might-worsen-symptoms-of-the-respiratory-illness-study-suggests-180989322/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-medieval-mans-injuries-reminded-one-archaeologist-of-modern-day-car-crash-victims-they-turned-out-to-be-the-work-of-an-english-trebuchet-180989346/A skeleton unearthed in Scotland likely belongs to a soldier struck by a high-speed projectile during Edward I's 1304 siege of Stirling Castle. The man suffered more than 160 fracturesFri, 14 Aug 2026 19:49:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-medieval-mans-injuries-reminded-one-archaeologist-of-modern-day-car-crash-victims-they-turned-out-to-be-the-work-of-an-english-trebuchet-180989346/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/schlitz-beer-an-iconic-midwestern-pour-officially-runs-dry-in-chicago-after-177-years-180989342/With significant roles in the Great Chicago Fire, 1893 World’s Fair and modern-day architecture, the beer’s impact on the Windy City is undeniableFri, 14 Aug 2026 18:05:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/schlitz-beer-an-iconic-midwestern-pour-officially-runs-dry-in-chicago-after-177-years-180989342/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronomers-peered-at-the-early-universe-and-may-have-discovered-a-new-kind-of-celestial-object-black-hole-stars-180989334/Since the James Webb Space Telescope started collecting data in 2022, it has found puzzling objects dubbed little red dots. A new study suggests they might be giant black holes with some characteristics of starsFri, 14 Aug 2026 15:47:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/astronomers-peered-at-the-early-universe-and-may-have-discovered-a-new-kind-of-celestial-object-black-hole-stars-180989334/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historic-submarine-restoration-reveals-a-hidden-connection-to-a-lost-sister-ship-that-sank-during-world-war-ii-180989340/Experts working on the USS "Silversides" found a flood valve that appears to have been destined for its sister ship, the USS "Trigger." The vessel sank in the East China Sea on March 28, 1945Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:01:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/historic-submarine-restoration-reveals-a-hidden-connection-to-a-lost-sister-ship-that-sank-during-world-war-ii-180989340/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/heres-why-these-male-spiders-sacrifice-themselves-by-somersaulting-into-females-fangs-while-mating-180989337/A new study suggest that even strange, complex animal behaviors can have a relatively simple genetic basisFri, 14 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/heres-why-these-male-spiders-sacrifice-themselves-by-somersaulting-into-females-fangs-while-mating-180989337/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-library-book-was-150-years-overdue-fortunately-for-the-man-who-just-returned-it-librarians-wont-be-enforcing-a-20000-late-fee-180989339/"The Antiquities of Athens" had likely been missing from an Australian library since the 1870s. Staffers say its recovery is "an unlikely story of survival (of the book) and redemption (of the borrower)"Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-library-book-was-150-years-overdue-fortunately-for-the-man-who-just-returned-it-librarians-wont-be-enforcing-a-20000-late-fee-180989339/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meat-wasnt-the-only-food-that-drove-early-humans-to-evolve-bigger-brains-sugar-may-have-fueled-the-organs-enlargement-too-180989335/Scientists examined four million years of hominin diets. They found that natural sugars may have supplied energy—in the form of glucose—to growing brains before cooking made starchy foods easier to digestThu, 13 Aug 2026 20:27:39 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meat-wasnt-the-only-food-that-drove-early-humans-to-evolve-bigger-brains-sugar-may-have-fueled-the-organs-enlargement-too-180989335/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-than-200-golden-mozart-statuettes-stolen-from-salzburg-months-after-famed-composers-270th-birthday-180989332/The Austrian public art installation heist is not the first time miniature statues of composers have been stolenThu, 13 Aug 2026 19:07:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/more-than-200-golden-mozart-statuettes-stolen-from-salzburg-months-after-famed-composers-270th-birthday-180989332/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-aerospace-startup-just-got-approval-to-test-beaming-sunlight-to-earth-heres-why-experts-are-worried-and-petitioning-180989323/By 2035, Reflect Orbital aims to launch up to 50,000 satellites equipped with mirrors to provide sunlight to Earth-based solar panels. Critics are concerned about impacts on wildlife, astronomy research and human healthThu, 13 Aug 2026 17:38:44 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-aerospace-startup-just-got-approval-to-test-beaming-sunlight-to-earth-heres-why-experts-are-worried-and-petitioning-180989323/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/from-armpits-to-feet-our-ticklish-hot-spots-are-surprisingly-universal-the-finding-offers-clues-about-the-sensations-evolutionary-origins-180989324/A new study probes the basics of gargalesis, a poorly understood type of tickling caused by firm, repetitive touches that typically elicits laughter and squirmingThu, 13 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/from-armpits-to-feet-our-ticklish-hot-spots-are-surprisingly-universal-the-finding-offers-clues-about-the-sensations-evolutionary-origins-180989324/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-magnificent-photos-of-the-total-solar-eclipse-over-europe-that-showcase-the-suns-beauty-and-the-wonder-of-skywatching-180989325/The moon’s shadow swept over Earth on Wednesday, captivating millions across the planet. It was the first total solar eclipse since the North American eclipse of April 2024Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-magnificent-photos-of-the-total-solar-eclipse-over-europe-that-showcase-the-suns-beauty-and-the-wonder-of-skywatching-180989325/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thousands-of-years-ago-denisovans-might-have-been-huge-especially-compared-to-their-archaic-human-neighbors-180989327/New research offers rare insight into our extinct cousins who lived in Asia and who may have towered over petite "Homo erectus"Wed, 12 Aug 2026 22:14:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thousands-of-years-ago-denisovans-might-have-been-huge-especially-compared-to-their-archaic-human-neighbors-180989327/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-historian-at-mit-discovered-the-surprising-truth-about-this-chinese-label-long-thought-to-be-a-souvenir-of-the-boston-tea-party-180989328/The saga of the artifact displayed at Boston's Old South Meeting House demonstrates how the study of history evolvesWed, 12 Aug 2026 21:17:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-historian-at-mit-discovered-the-surprising-truth-about-this-chinese-label-long-thought-to-be-a-souvenir-of-the-boston-tea-party-180989328/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nasa-completes-daring-big-bang-fix-on-the-voyager-2-probe-allowing-it-to-keep-studying-interstellar-space-180989312/Scientists swapped three of the probe’s heating devices for ones that use less energy, and they might do the same with Voyager 1. Both spacecraft launched almost 50 years agoWed, 12 Aug 2026 20:09:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nasa-completes-daring-big-bang-fix-on-the-voyager-2-probe-allowing-it-to-keep-studying-interstellar-space-180989312/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/following-pope-leo-vivs-encyclical-the-vatican-announces-a-new-art-triennial-celebrating-human-creativity-and-empathy-in-the-age-of-ai-180989321/More than 100 artists will showcase their art on four continents as the Catholic Church continues to emphasize human creativity and relationships over artificial intelligence toolsWed, 12 Aug 2026 19:00:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/following-pope-leo-vivs-encyclical-the-vatican-announces-a-new-art-triennial-celebrating-human-creativity-and-empathy-in-the-age-of-ai-180989321/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stunning-new-images-reveal-whirlpools-on-the-suns-surface-the-swirling-strutures-might-help-power-solar-flares-180989292/Observed directly in the solar photosphere for the first time, the vortices might braid magnetic fields, thought to be responsible for energy buildups and eventual outbursts. The features also offer clues about why the sun’s outer atmosphere is millions of degrees hotter than its surfaceWed, 12 Aug 2026 18:19:56 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/stunning-new-images-reveal-whirlpools-on-the-suns-surface-the-swirling-strutures-might-help-power-solar-flares-180989292/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shipwreck-divers-discovered-a-162-year-old-bottle-of-guinness-brewed-during-the-reign-of-queen-victoria-and-they-want-to-take-a-swig-180989320/The beer was preserved in a sealed glass bottle and may be safe to sample. The team is also hoping to sequence the DNA of the yeast to recreate what the stout would have tasted like in the 19th centuryWed, 12 Aug 2026 17:28:38 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shipwreck-divers-discovered-a-162-year-old-bottle-of-guinness-brewed-during-the-reign-of-queen-victoria-and-they-want-to-take-a-swig-180989320/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pumas-might-be-making-your-drive-home-safer-when-the-predators-are-around-deer-tend-to-avoid-roads-preventing-some-collisions-180989314/In Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, the wild cats’ presence corresponded with a 67 percent drop in the likelihood of a deer-vehicle crash and a 76 percent overall decline in the number of wrecks during a five-year period, according to a new studyWed, 12 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/pumas-might-be-making-your-drive-home-safer-when-the-predators-are-around-deer-tend-to-avoid-roads-preventing-some-collisions-180989314/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-in-England-preparing-for-road-construction-unearthed-a-roman-era-fingernail-cleaner-with-a-handle-shaped-like-a-penis-180989318/The Romans considered the phallus a symbol of good luck and used it to decorate objects, mark walls and inspire sculpturesTue, 11 Aug 2026 22:45:06 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-in-England-preparing-for-road-construction-unearthed-a-roman-era-fingernail-cleaner-with-a-handle-shaped-like-a-penis-180989318/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-total-solar-eclipse-is-coming-to-spain-this-madrid-museum-is-celebrating-with-a-digital-artwork-illuminating-its-paintings-in-the-light-of-the-eclipse-180989311/A new animation from The Prado, called "El Prado a la luz del eclipse," uses A.I. to imagine masterpieces by Goya and Velázquez as if their scenes occurred during a total solar eclipseTue, 11 Aug 2026 21:08:08 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-total-solar-eclipse-is-coming-to-spain-this-madrid-museum-is-celebrating-with-a-digital-artwork-illuminating-its-paintings-in-the-light-of-the-eclipse-180989311/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-to-watch-the-total-solar-eclipse-on-a-live-stream-witnessing-the-rare-view-of-the-suns-corona-from-your-own-home-180989315/Wednesday’s eclipse will bring dark skies to parts of Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and Spain. But with these online broadcasts, you can view the spectacle from anywhereTue, 11 Aug 2026 20:35:29 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-to-watch-the-total-solar-eclipse-on-a-live-stream-witnessing-the-rare-view-of-the-suns-corona-from-your-own-home-180989315/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-new-app-created-in-collaboration-with-the-rainy-lake-ojibwe-community-aims-to-preserve-indigenous-language-and-knowledge-180989317/Users can browse traditional stories, learn more about notable landmarks and discover family connectionsTue, 11 Aug 2026 19:00:41 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-new-app-created-in-collaboration-with-the-rainy-lake-ojibwe-community-aims-to-preserve-indigenous-language-and-knowledge-180989317/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/jackie-the-bald-eagle-who-captured-hearts-around-the-world-via-livestream-has-died-after-battling-a-mysterious-illness-180989310/A raptor center in California had been caring for the animal since mid-July, after she had an altercation with two young eagles. But she had probably been sick long before thenTue, 11 Aug 2026 18:37:26 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/jackie-the-bald-eagle-who-captured-hearts-around-the-world-via-livestream-has-died-after-battling-a-mysterious-illness-180989310/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-11-year-old-boy-in-an-illinois-small-town-just-became-the-guinness-world-record-holder-for-being-the-youngest-museum-curator-180989313/Four years after Anderson Taylor began collecting specimens, he opened the Cambridge Natural History Museum in Cambridge, Illinois, offering school tours and attracting visitors from across the regionTue, 11 Aug 2026 17:53:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-11-year-old-boy-in-an-illinois-small-town-just-became-the-guinness-world-record-holder-for-being-the-youngest-museum-curator-180989313/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-the-first-time-an-mrna-flu-shot-will-be-available-to-some-people-in-the-united-states-heres-what-you-should-know-180989305/The Food and Drug Administration just approved the new type of flu vaccine for adults ages 50 and older. It relies on the same technology as many Covid-19 jabs. However, it’s unclear whether insurance companies will pay for the novel flu shotTue, 11 Aug 2026 15:41:54 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-the-first-time-an-mrna-flu-shot-will-be-available-to-some-people-in-the-united-states-heres-what-you-should-know-180989305/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/got-a-brawny-build-you-might-be-able-to-thank-your-neanderthal-ancestors-according-to-a-new-study-180989306/New research hints that some living people inherited a gene variant from Neanderthals that has made them slightly taller and more muscular than their peersTue, 11 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/got-a-brawny-build-you-might-be-able-to-thank-your-neanderthal-ancestors-according-to-a-new-study-180989306/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/off-the-coast-of-sicily-divers-discovered-a-roman-era-shipwreck-with-hundreds-of-amphorae-ancient-jars-frequently-used-to-hold-wine-180989307/The site could offer fresh insights into Mediterranean trade routes more than 2,000 years agoMon, 10 Aug 2026 21:53:11 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/off-the-coast-of-sicily-divers-discovered-a-roman-era-shipwreck-with-hundreds-of-amphorae-ancient-jars-frequently-used-to-hold-wine-180989307/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-scallywag-schoolboy-swiped-an-abbots-kneecap-70-years-ago-his-widow-just-returned-it-to-glastonbury-abbey-180989308/George Box kept the knee bone, along with a piece of tile from the same site, throughout his entire life. He confessed the origins of their acquisition to his wife in his later yearsMon, 10 Aug 2026 20:59:58 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-scallywag-schoolboy-swiped-an-abbots-kneecap-70-years-ago-his-widow-just-returned-it-to-glastonbury-abbey-180989308/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/centuries-ago-this-soldier-was-smudged-out-of-a-famed-de-hooch-painting-restorers-have-painted-him-back-in-180989304/Pieter de Hooch was known for his 17th-century portrayals of domestic life. Some scenes suggested scandal or taught a moralMon, 10 Aug 2026 19:24:11 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/centuries-ago-this-soldier-was-smudged-out-of-a-famed-de-hooch-painting-restorers-have-painted-him-back-in-180989304/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-perseid-meteor-shower-peaks-this-week-amid-ideal-viewing-conditions-heres-how-to-watch-the-events-bright-shooting-stars-180989298/The much-anticipated annual event peaks on the night of August 12 into the next morning. This year, the moon won’t crash the party, as our natural satellite will be in its dark new moon phaseMon, 10 Aug 2026 18:32:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-perseid-meteor-shower-peaks-this-week-amid-ideal-viewing-conditions-heres-how-to-watch-the-events-bright-shooting-stars-180989298/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-did-the-ancient-romans-bury-this-monumental-marble-statue-face-down-they-wanted-to-repurpose-it-as-a-paving-stone-180989302/Archaeologists discovered the roughly 2,500-year-old sculpture of a young man while conducting excavations at Sardis in western Turkey. The artwork reflects the different cultures that wielded control over the city in the first millennium B.C.E.Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:01:20 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-did-the-ancient-romans-bury-this-monumental-marble-statue-face-down-they-wanted-to-repurpose-it-as-a-paving-stone-180989302/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/spinal-deformities-in-saber-toothed-cat-fossils-reveal-how-the-now-extinct-felines-may-have-spent-their-final-days-180989237/Researchers studied saber-toothed cat vertebrae found in the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. They identified a surprisingly high number of deformations, including signs of spinal nerve tumors, hinting at a dwindling population suffering the consequences of inbreedingMon, 10 Aug 2026 15:36:44 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/spinal-deformities-in-saber-toothed-cat-fossils-reveal-how-the-now-extinct-felines-may-have-spent-their-final-days-180989237/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-hiroshima-atomic-bombing-birthed-a-strange-never-before-seen-material-according-to-a-new-study-180989249/The devastating blast vaporized buildings, metal, glass, soil and water. When the substances cooled and condensed, the process created spherical glassy grains—and some of them seem to contain a previously unknown metal alloyMon, 10 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-hiroshima-atomic-bombing-birthed-a-strange-never-before-seen-material-according-to-a-new-study-180989249/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-of-the-most-important-cookbooks-of-the-20th-century-celebrates-50-years-what-made-jacques-pepin-so-important-in-the-kitchen-180989297/With instructions and images explaining how to carve vegetables and deconstruct a lamb, "La Technique" by Jacques Pépin became a how-to guide and an inspiration for countless cooks and food loversMon, 10 Aug 2026 13:41:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-of-the-most-important-cookbooks-of-the-20th-century-celebrates-50-years-what-made-jacques-pepin-so-important-in-the-kitchen-180989297/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-spacex-rocket-part-just-slammed-into-the-moon-creating-a-dust-plume-and-crater-heres-what-some-scientific-instruments-saw-180989299/The Korea Aerospace Research Institute captured before-and-after images of the impact site, and a telescope in Chile detected signs of the plume. However, no one was able to watch the collision liveFri, 07 Aug 2026 21:26:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-spacex-rocket-part-just-slammed-into-the-moon-creating-a-dust-plume-and-crater-heres-what-some-scientific-instruments-saw-180989299/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-british-museum-is-searching-for-a-rare-1940s-housecoat-from-a-fashion-brand-that-dressed-the-queen-and-ordinary-women-on-special-occasions-180989296/Patterned with a map of the British Isles, the housecoat was an early design by the pioneering brand Horrockses, which turned cotton cloth into whimsical women's wear after World War IIFri, 07 Aug 2026 20:10:15 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-british-museum-is-searching-for-a-rare-1940s-housecoat-from-a-fashion-brand-that-dressed-the-queen-and-ordinary-women-on-special-occasions-180989296/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-of-italys-most-popular-attractions-the-uffizi-galleries-in-florence-reveals-plans-for-a-major-renovation-over-the-next-two-years-180989295/The collection of treasures, many of them connected to the Medici family, includes Italian Renaissance masterpieces, a palace and a courtly gardenFri, 07 Aug 2026 18:22:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/one-of-italys-most-popular-attractions-the-uffizi-galleries-in-florence-reveals-plans-for-a-major-renovation-over-the-next-two-years-180989295/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/traces-of-two-extinct-ghost-ancestors-were-found-hiding-in-modern-human-dna-hinting-at-our-extremely-complex-family-tree-180989250/Researchers used a new method to investigate past interbreeding with Homo sapiens that doesn't require ancient DNA. The technique identified areas of living humans' genomes that came from unknown hominins, including one from a 1.8-million-year-old lineageFri, 07 Aug 2026 15:34:44 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/traces-of-two-extinct-ghost-ancestors-were-found-hiding-in-modern-human-dna-hinting-at-our-extremely-complex-family-tree-180989250/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/first-a-volcanic-eruption-now-a-crustacean-invasion-see-the-giant-lobsters-taking-over-the-ancient-city-of-pompeii-180989275/A pop art installation featuring more than 30 sculptures from artist Philip Colbert is the first contemporary sculpture exhibition to land in Pompeii in three decadesFri, 07 Aug 2026 14:17:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/first-a-volcanic-eruption-now-a-crustacean-invasion-see-the-giant-lobsters-taking-over-the-ancient-city-of-pompeii-180989275/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/butterflies-around-the-world-are-moving-to-new-habitats-largely-because-of-climate-change-a-study-suggests-180989279/Researchers examined data on 1,758 butterfly species—about ten percent of all those known—from 105 countries and estimated that about one in ten global species has shifted its distribution rangeFri, 07 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/butterflies-around-the-world-are-moving-to-new-habitats-largely-because-of-climate-change-a-study-suggests-180989279/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-does-antarcticas-blood-falls-spew-ruby-red-water-microbes-offer-new-clues-about-the-geologic-features-ancient-origins-180989271/The falls contain saltwater rich with iron, which oxidizes and turns red when exposed to air. A new study provides further evidence that the brine probably comes from ocean water trapped when flood waters retreated millions of years agoThu, 06 Aug 2026 20:26:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-does-antarcticas-blood-falls-spew-ruby-red-water-microbes-offer-new-clues-about-the-geologic-features-ancient-origins-180989271/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-marine-life-mosaic-discovered-near-the-colosseum-offers-a-surprising-clue-its-building-may-have-housed-firefighters-in-ancient-rome-180989273/At the time of the structure's construction in the second century C.E., firefighting in ancient Rome was a formalized professionThu, 06 Aug 2026 19:51:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-marine-life-mosaic-discovered-near-the-colosseum-offers-a-surprising-clue-its-building-may-have-housed-firefighters-in-ancient-rome-180989273/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/charles-darwin-theorized-that-these-plants-were-carnivorous-150-years-ago-a-new-study-proves-him-right-180989265/As the naturalist predicted in 1875, some Saxifraga plants consume insects—using sticky hairs to trap themThu, 06 Aug 2026 19:15:21 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/charles-darwin-theorized-that-these-plants-were-carnivorous-150-years-ago-a-new-study-proves-him-right-180989265/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nine-lives-a-feral-cat-hunting-rare-ducks-in-new-zealand-has-been-caught-and-killed-after-three-years-180989267/The gray tabby, known as Nine Lives because it eluded capture so many times, had devastated efforts by conservationists to reintroduce the birds to the wildThu, 06 Aug 2026 17:42:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nine-lives-a-feral-cat-hunting-rare-ducks-in-new-zealand-has-been-caught-and-killed-after-three-years-180989267/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/metal-detectorists-thought-theyd-hit-the-jackpot-when-they-discovered-gold-bracelet-dating-to-bronze-age-then-they-found-two-more-180989272/At first, Andy Crammond thought the object was a bull's nose ring. Other artifacts unearthed nearby include a Viking brooch, a Roman coin hoard and a Bronze Age ax headThu, 06 Aug 2026 17:39:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/metal-detectorists-thought-theyd-hit-the-jackpot-when-they-discovered-gold-bracelet-dating-to-bronze-age-then-they-found-two-more-180989272/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/fires-and-financial-trouble-leave-the-fate-of-a-few-arts-institutions-uncertain-in-this-scottish-city-including-a-century-old-art-nouveau-masterpiece-180989264/The historic Glasgow School of Art and the more modern Glasgow Centre for Contemporary Arts were both affected by a significant blaze in 2018Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:35:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/fires-and-financial-trouble-leave-the-fate-of-a-few-arts-institutions-uncertain-in-this-scottish-city-including-a-century-old-art-nouveau-masterpiece-180989264/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sperm-whales-seem-to-change-their-calls-when-ships-are-near-highlighting-the-implications-of-underwater-noise-pollution-180989257/Several of the huge cetaceans living in the eastern Caribbean Sea shortened the intervals between their clicks and used one click pattern more than another when vessels were around, according to a new studyThu, 06 Aug 2026 15:12:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sperm-whales-seem-to-change-their-calls-when-ships-are-near-highlighting-the-implications-of-underwater-noise-pollution-180989257/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-world-war-ii-submaring-noted-for-its-success-sinking-enemy-ships-just-journeyed-across-lake-michigan-for-a-multimillion-dollar-makeover-180989269/The USS 'Silversides' earned a dozen battle stars for its work patrolling the Pacific Ocean. The Gato-class sub is now the star of a museum in MichiganThu, 06 Aug 2026 14:48:16 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-world-war-ii-submaring-noted-for-its-success-sinking-enemy-ships-just-journeyed-across-lake-michigan-for-a-multimillion-dollar-makeover-180989269/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-went-to-the-opera-projecting-images-for-an-anniversary-production-of-wagners-ring-cycle-at-the-theater-where-he-first-staged-the-masterpiece-180989270/It took Richard Wagner a quarter-century to complete the four-part opera. The new production, called "10010110," uses generative artificial intelligence to explore the artwork’s evolutionWed, 05 Aug 2026 21:03:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-went-to-the-opera-projecting-images-for-an-anniversary-production-of-wagners-ring-cycle-at-the-theater-where-he-first-staged-the-masterpiece-180989270/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/neptune-may-have-once-witnessed-a-lunar-massacre-that-turned-its-original-moons-inside-out-180989266/A new study identifies an unexpected mineral in two of the planet’s inner moons, pointing to a destructive past in which a large object got pulled into the system and obliterated the former, larger satellitesWed, 05 Aug 2026 20:51:47 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/neptune-may-have-once-witnessed-a-lunar-massacre-that-turned-its-original-moons-inside-out-180989266/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-serpentine-sculpture-inspired-by-benjamin-franklins-join-or-die-call-for-unity-is-taking-shape-segment-by-segment-in-philadelphia-180989263/Created by John Collins, the 46-foot-long granite artwork inspired by an 18th-century political cartoon is slated to be unveiled on Independence Mall sometime this fallWed, 05 Aug 2026 14:16:18 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-serpentine-sculpture-inspired-by-benjamin-franklins-join-or-die-call-for-unity-is-taking-shape-segment-by-segment-in-philadelphia-180989263/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/flesh-eating-superworms-could-become-a-new-skeleton-cleaning-crew-for-museum-and-research-specimens-180989258/A new study hints that the critters would be a good alternative to traditional methods used to remove flesh from bones, including dermestid beetles, chemical treatments and boiling, which can cause damage or be time-consumingWed, 05 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/flesh-eating-superworms-could-become-a-new-skeleton-cleaning-crew-for-museum-and-research-specimens-180989258/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-american-pilot-downed-4o-enemy-aircraft-during-world-war-ii-researchers-discovered-the-wreck-of-his-plane-in-a-pacific-jungle-and-brought-a-wing-back-to-his-home-state-180989259/Richard I. Bong, flying a plane decorated with a portrait of his future wife, Marge, became America's highest-scoring "ace" and received a Medal of HonorTue, 04 Aug 2026 20:33:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-american-pilot-downed-4o-enemy-aircraft-during-world-war-ii-researchers-discovered-the-wreck-of-his-plane-in-a-pacific-jungle-and-brought-a-wing-back-to-his-home-state-180989259/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-peope-died-after-getting-sick-with-cyclosporiasis-marking-the-first-known-deaths-linked-to-the-ongoing-multi-state-outbreak-180989256/Both patients, who were in Michigan, had underlying health conditions, according to state officials. The parasite-caused infection usually isn't life-threateningTue, 04 Aug 2026 19:17:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/two-peope-died-after-getting-sick-with-cyclosporiasis-marking-the-first-known-deaths-linked-to-the-ongoing-multi-state-outbreak-180989256/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-danube-river-has-fallen-to-record-low-water-levels-revealing-nazi-warships-bombs-and-woolly-mammoth-bones-in-its-channel-180989255/Residents and researchers are finding historic and prehistoric relics as Europe's second-longest river driesTue, 04 Aug 2026 18:20:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-danube-river-has-fallen-to-record-low-water-levels-revealing-nazi-warships-bombs-and-woolly-mammoth-bones-in-its-channel-180989255/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-a-first-astronomers-may-have-spotted-a-supermassive-black-hole-that-wandered-to-the-edge-of-its-galaxy-180989233/These giant celestial objects have mostly been identified at the centers of galaxies, where they're known to reside. But a recently discovered one—found because of the light emitted while it snacked on a star—appears to be more than 30,000 light-years from its host galaxy's heartTue, 04 Aug 2026 16:16:17 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-a-first-astronomers-may-have-spotted-a-supermassive-black-hole-that-wandered-to-the-edge-of-its-galaxy-180989233/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-early-biplanes-documented-the-arctic-captured-newsreel-footage-and-witnessed-lindberghs-historic-flight-now-a-rare-example-will-hang-in-a-museum-180989253/The Cradle of Aviation Museum recently acquired a Curtiss Oriole, three-seat biplane manufactured at a nearby Garden City factoryTue, 04 Aug 2026 15:17:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-early-biplanes-documented-the-arctic-captured-newsreel-footage-and-witnessed-lindberghs-historic-flight-now-a-rare-example-will-hang-in-a-museum-180989253/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-north-american-mammals-may-have-gathered-in-mexico-and-diversified-before-moving-to-south-america-priming-them-to-thrive-there-180989251/An analysis of fossils from the country hints that animals from the north stayed in a "holding pen" between seven million and ten million years ago. The timeline might help explain why so many South American mammals have North American ancestry, but not vice versaTue, 04 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-north-american-mammals-may-have-gathered-in-mexico-and-diversified-before-moving-to-south-america-priming-them-to-thrive-there-180989251/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/to-recover-artworks-looted-by-the-nazis-researchers-are-getting-creative-with-new-strategies-including-an-ai-chatbot-and-a-campaign-of-wanted-posters-180989247/University researchers hope their new artificial intelligence chatbot makes provenance research easier and more accessibleMon, 03 Aug 2026 21:33:15 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/to-recover-artworks-looted-by-the-nazis-researchers-are-getting-creative-with-new-strategies-including-an-ai-chatbot-and-a-campaign-of-wanted-posters-180989247/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-images-provide-the-best-evidence-yet-that-supergiant-star-betelgeuse-does-inded-have-a-long-theorized-stellar-companion-180989225/The research team is mostly convinced by the data, but they want to capture additional observations in 2027 to confirm what they've foundMon, 03 Aug 2026 20:07:35 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-images-provide-the-best-evidence-yet-that-supergiant-star-betelgeuse-does-inded-have-a-long-theorized-stellar-companion-180989225/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-400-year-old-impenetrable-japanese-castle-that-survived-a-samurai-siege-just-crumbled-in-an-earthquake-180989248/In 1877, a force rebelling against Emperor Meiji attacked Kumamoto Castle on Japan's southern Kyushu islandMon, 03 Aug 2026 19:55:29 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-400-year-old-impenetrable-japanese-castle-that-survived-a-samurai-siege-just-crumbled-in-an-earthquake-180989248/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-man-used-this-civil-war-artifact-as-a-paperweight-on-his-desk-the-bomb-squad-told-him-it-was-actually-a-live-explosive-180989245/The device turned out to be an artillery shell designed for a Parrott rifle in the mid-1800s. Experts safely detonated it at a firing range near San AntonioMon, 03 Aug 2026 19:40:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-man-used-this-civil-war-artifact-as-a-paperweight-on-his-desk-the-bomb-squad-told-him-it-was-actually-a-live-explosive-180989245/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/after-receiving-a-custom-experimental-medicine-a-teen-with-a-rare-genetic-disorder-walked-on-his-own-for-the-first-time-180989230/The patient's genetic disorder causes frequent seizures and developmental delays. His progress, along with that of another boy who received a similar personalized treatment, highlights the promise—and challenges—of tailor-made drugsMon, 03 Aug 2026 17:31:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/after-receiving-a-custom-experimental-medicine-a-teen-with-a-rare-genetic-disorder-walked-on-his-own-for-the-first-time-180989230/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/smallpox-dna-hidden-for-centuries-in-mummies-found-in-chile-suggests-european-colonists-brought-the-virus-to-the-americas-180989244/Researchers say they found the first direct, molecular proof of the deadly trajectory the virus tookMon, 03 Aug 2026 15:27:18 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/smallpox-dna-hidden-for-centuries-in-mummies-found-in-chile-suggests-european-colonists-brought-the-virus-to-the-americas-180989244/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-man-turned-human-corpses-into-popular-museum-displays-now-the-creator-of-these-controversial-body-worlds-has-donated-his-own-body-to-science-180989242/Gunther von Hagens, who invented plastination, a method of preserving bodies by replacing their natural fluids with polymers, recently died at age 81Fri, 31 Jul 2026 19:56:10 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-man-turned-human-corpses-into-popular-museum-displays-now-the-creator-of-these-controversial-body-worlds-has-donated-his-own-body-to-science-180989242/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-fossil-reveals-a-three-tier-food-chain-frozen-in-time-a-pterosaur-eaten-by-an-ichthyosaur-eaten-by-a-pliosaur-180989243/Uncovered in part by amateur fossil hunters in Australia, the fossil preserves a unique look at prehistoric predatory dynamicsFri, 31 Jul 2026 18:40:06 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rare-fossil-reveals-a-three-tier-food-chain-frozen-in-time-a-pterosaur-eaten-by-an-ichthyosaur-eaten-by-a-pliosaur-180989243/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-iconic-watts-towers-in-los-angeles-will-get-a-22-million-campus-expansion-ahead-of-the-2028-summer-olympics-180989240/Five acres of green space will surround the 17-structure landmark, a folk art masterpiece that an Italian immigrant built over the course of three decadesFri, 31 Jul 2026 18:05:19 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-iconic-watts-towers-in-los-angeles-will-get-a-22-million-campus-expansion-ahead-of-the-2028-summer-olympics-180989240/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-two-thumbnail-sized-bird-sculptures-carved-from-mammoth-ivory-40000-years-ago-180989239/Measuring less than an inch long, the figurines were buried beneath Germany's Hohle Fels Cave, where some of the world's oldest known figurative artworks have been foundFri, 31 Jul 2026 18:01:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-two-thumbnail-sized-bird-sculptures-carved-from-mammoth-ivory-40000-years-ago-180989239/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ice-age-humans-mostly-killed-female-woolly-mammoths-suggests-ancient-dna-180989241/After analyzing more than 500 mammoth bones, researchers found that ancient humans disproportionately hunted female mammoths for reasons still unknownFri, 31 Jul 2026 17:41:16 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ice-age-humans-mostly-killed-female-woolly-mammoths-suggests-ancient-dna-180989241/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/antarctic-interior-hits-119-4-degrees-fahrenheit-earths-lowest-recorded-temperature-in-more-than-a-decade-180989231/The record-setting cold at the Concordia research station comes just weeks after another part of the southernmost continent experienced the opposite extreme, with winter temperatures climbing to unprecedented highsFri, 31 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/antarctic-interior-hits-119-4-degrees-fahrenheit-earths-lowest-recorded-temperature-in-more-than-a-decade-180989231/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mysterious-shapes-hidden-beneath-the-amazon-canopy-reveal-a-sprawling-ancient-civilization-much-bigger-than-researchers-expected-180989236/Scientists recently discovered hundreds of monumental, geometric earthworks known as "geoglyphs" in northern Brazil from the Aquiry civilizationFri, 31 Jul 2026 13:47:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mysterious-shapes-hidden-beneath-the-amazon-canopy-reveal-a-sprawling-ancient-civilization-much-bigger-than-researchers-expected-180989236/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/audio-engineers-restored-hidden-notes-and-revealed-lost-instruments-in-this-new-treasure-trove-of-songs-by-the-pioneering-mother-of-the-blues-180989228/The 118-track collection is the most complete set ever compiled of recordings by American blues icon Ma RaineyThu, 30 Jul 2026 20:14:54 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/audio-engineers-restored-hidden-notes-and-revealed-lost-instruments-in-this-new-treasure-trove-of-songs-by-the-pioneering-mother-of-the-blues-180989228/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-strange-never-before-seen-cancer-seems-to-be-spreading-among-catfish-in-a-new-england-lake-180989195/More than a decade ago, fishers and biologists noticed jet-black tumors on the skin of brown bullhead catfish in Lake Memphremagog. Genetic testing hints that they are caused by the first contagious cancer ever documented in fishThu, 30 Jul 2026 18:40:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-strange-never-before-seen-cancer-seems-to-be-spreading-among-catfish-in-a-new-england-lake-180989195/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dangerous-fire-clouds-are-making-frances-wildfires-even-more-destructive-180989234/It's the first time the phenomenon, which is fairly common in North America, has been observed in FranceThu, 30 Jul 2026 18:14:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dangerous-fire-clouds-are-making-frances-wildfires-even-more-destructive-180989234/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/want-to-spend-some-alone-time-with-stonehenge-this-august-lucky-visitors-get-the-chance-to-enter-the-stone-circle-before-the-site-opens-to-tourists-180989229/Almost every day next month, management of the prehistoric landmark in England will draw a winning ticket and offer a unique experience to a visitor before the daily bustle beginsThu, 30 Jul 2026 18:02:41 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/want-to-spend-some-alone-time-with-stonehenge-this-august-lucky-visitors-get-the-chance-to-enter-the-stone-circle-before-the-site-opens-to-tourists-180989229/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-man-unearthed-a-mysterious-metal-object-sticking-straight-up-from-the-ground-it-turned-out-to-be-a-2700-year-old-sword-180989232/Marcin Wiśniewski found the weapon while metal detecting in a forest near the Polish city of Gdańsk. Experts told him that it likely dates to between 900 and 700 B.C.E.Thu, 30 Jul 2026 17:01:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-man-unearthed-a-mysterious-metal-object-sticking-straight-up-from-the-ground-it-turned-out-to-be-a-2700-year-old-sword-180989232/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/long-term-exposure-to-road-traffic-noise-might-increase-your-risk-of-developing-parkinsons-disease-new-research-suggests-180989216/A study that examined 3.1 million adults in Denmark across 18 years found a modest but consistent correlation. The findings hint that disruptive environmental sounds are a credible risk factor for the brain disorderThu, 30 Jul 2026 15:30:53 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/long-term-exposure-to-road-traffic-noise-might-increase-your-risk-of-developing-parkinsons-disease-new-research-suggests-180989216/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-dino-killing-asteroid-strike-may-have-transformed-our-planet-into-a-hellish-inferno-charbroiling-most-creatures-within-hours-180989226/Based on computer simulations and geologic evidence, scientists propose that the deadly event may have caused global wildfires and trapped heat in the atmosphere, roasting any animal that couldn't take cover fast enoughThu, 30 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-dino-killing-asteroid-strike-may-have-transformed-our-planet-into-a-hellish-inferno-charbroiling-most-creatures-within-hours-180989226/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/australias-most-notorious-shipwreck-tells-a-story-of-murder-slavery-mutiny-and-now-surprisingly-sophisticated-trade-in-the-17th-century-180989227/When the Dutch East India Company’s flagship "Batavia" sank in 1629, it went down with large, carved sandstone blocks in its hold. The stones are now shedding light on trade at the dawn of global capitalismThu, 30 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/australias-most-notorious-shipwreck-tells-a-story-of-murder-slavery-mutiny-and-now-surprisingly-sophisticated-trade-in-the-17th-century-180989227/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-pacific-island-disappeared-under-rising-seas-a-new-sculpture-marking-the-spot-will-morph-into-a-home-for-seabirds-coral-and-marine-life-180989223/"The Solomon Siren" remembers Kale Island, submerged a decade ago in the Solomon IslandsWed, 29 Jul 2026 19:53:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-pacific-island-disappeared-under-rising-seas-a-new-sculpture-marking-the-spot-will-morph-into-a-home-for-seabirds-coral-and-marine-life-180989223/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-new-frank-gehry-building-rising-from-the-shore-of-the-persian-gulf-in-abu-dhabi-to-house-a-global-art-collection-180989224/Officials just announced a December opening for the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, the long-awaited fourth installment in the Guggenheim Foundation's lineup of art museumsWed, 29 Jul 2026 18:20:42 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-new-frank-gehry-building-rising-from-the-shore-of-the-persian-gulf-in-abu-dhabi-to-house-a-global-art-collection-180989224/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-metal-detectorist-discovered-tiny-tiles-in-a-farmers-field-a-spectacular-ancient-roman-mosaic-was-buried-beneath-the-surface-180989222/The polychrome mosaic once decorated a small room in a lavish villa complex. Researchers, students and volunteers have been working together to excavate the rare site in southwestern EnglandWed, 29 Jul 2026 17:27:45 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-metal-detectorist-discovered-tiny-tiles-in-a-farmers-field-a-spectacular-ancient-roman-mosaic-was-buried-beneath-the-surface-180989222/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-did-some-reptiles-lose-their-limbs-to-become-snakes-an-80-million-year-old-fossil-helps-uncover-the-winding-evolutionary-history-180989203/Researchers have long suspected that the first of these slithering creatures lived in water, on land or underground. New research hints that more than one environment might be correctWed, 29 Jul 2026 17:20:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-did-some-reptiles-lose-their-limbs-to-become-snakes-an-80-million-year-old-fossil-helps-uncover-the-winding-evolutionary-history-180989203/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/heading-to-a-national-park-watch-out-for-elk-they-attack-people-way-more-often-than-bears-do-according-to-a-new-study-180989191/While many people worry about grizzlies, an analysis of almost 3,000 encounters with aggressive wildlife in Canadian national parks and historical sites found that the huge ungulates were responsible for more than half of themWed, 29 Jul 2026 15:08:46 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/heading-to-a-national-park-watch-out-for-elk-they-attack-people-way-more-often-than-bears-do-according-to-a-new-study-180989191/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-premature-baby-giraffe-born-via-c-section-is-fighting-for-her-life-at-a-zoo-in-kansas-180989214/According to officials with the Tanganyika Wildlife Park, no known giraffe calf has ever survived the procedure. The youngster, who was recently named Milani, was born on July 11, likely three to seven weeks earlyWed, 29 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-premature-baby-giraffe-born-via-c-section-is-fighting-for-her-life-at-a-zoo-in-kansas-180989214/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-man-picking-berries-in-the-forest-in-poland-might-have-stumbled-upon-the-wreckage-of-an-allied-airplane-from-world-war-ii-180989219/Experts are still investigating but note that an earlier discovery nearby identified part of the wing of a British Lancaster bomberWed, 29 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-man-picking-berries-in-the-forest-in-poland-might-have-stumbled-upon-the-wreckage-of-an-allied-airplane-from-world-war-ii-180989219/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-this-bee-species-why-do-some-of-daughters-leave-home-while-others-stay-bee-hind-to-help-mom-180989218/Biologists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute investigated a flexible social bee species, which helps shed light on the evolution of more complex organizational structures among other insectsTue, 28 Jul 2026 23:05:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-this-bee-species-why-do-some-of-daughters-leave-home-while-others-stay-bee-hind-to-help-mom-180989218/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-alligator-rich-swamp-in-the-american-south-just-joined-the-unesco-world-heritage-list-along-with-the-homes-of-the-greek-gods-180989213/The 25 new locations, determined to bear "outstanding universal value" for the world, also include the D-Day landing site in Normandy, FranceTue, 28 Jul 2026 21:05:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-alligator-rich-swamp-in-the-american-south-just-joined-the-unesco-world-heritage-list-along-with-the-homes-of-the-greek-gods-180989213/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/keep-eye-out-two-stellar-meteor-showers-peak-this-week-southern-delta-aquariids-alpha-capricornids-180989215/A nearly full moon may obscure the fireballs falling from the remains of two comets that passed through Earth's orbitTue, 28 Jul 2026 20:32:17 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/keep-eye-out-two-stellar-meteor-showers-peak-this-week-southern-delta-aquariids-alpha-capricornids-180989215/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-medieval-byzantine-shipwreck-boasts-more-gold-treasures-than-any-other-vessel-found-beneath-the-mediterranean-180989217/The vessel sank in the Adriatic Sea in the seventh or eighth century C.E. Its cargo included a gold signet ring likely associated with the emperor Heraclius and gold belts encrusted with rubies, emeralds and pearlsTue, 28 Jul 2026 20:07:44 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-medieval-byzantine-shipwreck-boasts-more-gold-treasures-than-any-other-vessel-found-beneath-the-mediterranean-180989217/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tsa-officers-found-five-cannonballs-stolen-from-a-civil-war-fort-in-a-checked-suitcase-at-an-alabama-airport-180989212/The inert artifacts gave security officers in Gulf Shores a good scare. Investigators say the weapons came from Fort Morgan, which guards Mobile BayTue, 28 Jul 2026 19:42:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tsa-officers-found-five-cannonballs-stolen-from-a-civil-war-fort-in-a-checked-suitcase-at-an-alabama-airport-180989212/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-a-rare-ceiling-fresco-from-pompeii-that-archaeologists-are-carefully-reassembling-piece-by-piece-like-an-ancient-puzzle-180989209/Located in the banquet hall of a home with an adjoining bakery, the fresco shows the mythological romance of Dionysus, the god of revelry and wine, and Ariadne, the Cretan princessTue, 28 Jul 2026 14:19:34 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-a-rare-ceiling-fresco-from-pompeii-that-archaeologists-are-carefully-reassembling-piece-by-piece-like-an-ancient-puzzle-180989209/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-endangered-kemps-ridley-sea-turtle-named-pancake-makes-a-triumphant-return-to-the-ocean-after-months-of-rehabilitation-180989205/The cold-stunned turtle was rescued last fall on Cape Cod and has since made a full recovery. The reptile, whose sex remains unknown, is estimated to be between 2 and 5 years old and weighed 11 pounds at the time of releaseTue, 28 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-endangered-kemps-ridley-sea-turtle-named-pancake-makes-a-triumphant-return-to-the-ocean-after-months-of-rehabilitation-180989205/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-does-a-bilingual-speakers-brain-process-two-languages-new-research-suggests-that-both-rely-on-the-same-neural-wiring-180989202/Scientists have long wondered whether different neural mechanisms govern each language within a bilingual speaker’s brain. A recent study of people who speak both English and Spanish hints at a single "grammatical engine"Mon, 27 Jul 2026 20:29:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-does-a-bilingual-speakers-brain-process-two-languages-new-research-suggests-that-both-rely-on-the-same-neural-wiring-180989202/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/french-customs-detained-this-marc-chagall-etching-for-two-decades-after-an-attempted-border-crossing-now-its-headed-for-public-display-180989204/An acrobat perches on a violin in the absurd scene, which draws on the Russian artist's favored motifsMon, 27 Jul 2026 19:08:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/french-customs-detained-this-marc-chagall-etching-for-two-decades-after-an-attempted-border-crossing-now-its-headed-for-public-display-180989204/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/art-sleuths-discovered-a-long-lost-and-enormously-important-portrait-of-an-elite-indian-woman-by-this-pioneering-scottish-painter-180989201/Katherine Read was one of the most fashionable portrait creators in London before she moved to India. She found success portraying women and childrenMon, 27 Jul 2026 17:33:05 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/art-sleuths-discovered-a-long-lost-and-enormously-important-portrait-of-an-elite-indian-woman-by-this-pioneering-scottish-painter-180989201/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-disproves-a-decades-old-mathematical-idea-the-biggest-conjecture-that-the-tech-has-played-a-role-in-yet-180989189/A mathematician announced that he used one of Anthropic's A.I. models to find a counterexample to a problem called the Jacobian conjecture. While experts consider it a milestone, the work raises questions about the future of mathematical researchMon, 27 Jul 2026 17:12:13 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ai-disproves-a-decades-old-mathematical-idea-the-biggest-conjecture-that-the-tech-has-played-a-role-in-yet-180989189/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chimpanzees-and-bonobos-use-hugs-kisses-and-pats-to-keep-the-peace-just-like-humans-a-new-study-suggests-180989192/Since all three ape species diverged from a common ancestor that lived roughly six million to eight million years ago, the findings hint that friendly touching to diffuse tension has deep evolutionary originsMon, 27 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/chimpanzees-and-bonobos-use-hugs-kisses-and-pats-to-keep-the-peace-just-like-humans-a-new-study-suggests-180989192/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/three-millennia-ago-humans-may-have-spoken-thousands-more-languages-than-we-have-today-during-a-linguistic-golden-age-180989197/A new study suggests linguistic diversity reached its peak between 1000 B.C.E. and 1000 C.E. before decliningFri, 24 Jul 2026 21:42:54 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/three-millennia-ago-humans-may-have-spoken-thousands-more-languages-than-we-have-today-during-a-linguistic-golden-age-180989197/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/its-nature-versus-culture-as-europeans-vote-on-new-designs-for-euro-banknotes-that-pit-kingfishers-against-leonardo-da-vinci-180989193/The European Central Bank released a shortlist of ten potential designs for a new series of printed banknotes, the first complete redesign since the Euro note was issued in 2002.Fri, 24 Jul 2026 20:41:16 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/its-nature-versus-culture-as-europeans-vote-on-new-designs-for-euro-banknotes-that-pit-kingfishers-against-leonardo-da-vinci-180989193/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-robot-can-flap-its-wings-to-both-fly-and-swim-it-might-one-day-help-scientists-study-diving-birds-and-survey-ocean-habitats-180989172/The bioinspired device, which weighs roughly half a pound and measures around three feet wide, was also modeled after aquatic birds like puffins, gulls and loonsFri, 24 Jul 2026 20:28:24 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-robot-can-flap-its-wings-to-both-fly-and-swim-it-might-one-day-help-scientists-study-diving-birds-and-survey-ocean-habitats-180989172/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hollywoods-iconic-cinerama-dome-one-of-the-worlds-most-famous-movie-theatres-is-set-to-reopen-in-early-2028-180989190/Shuttered since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Los Angeles landmark is being revived as more Americans buy tickets to see movies in theatersFri, 24 Jul 2026 19:24:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hollywoods-iconic-cinerama-dome-one-of-the-worlds-most-famous-movie-theatres-is-set-to-reopen-in-early-2028-180989190/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/is-this-giant-celestial-body-a-moon-a-planet-or-something-in-between-the-strange-object-calls-astrononomical-labels-into-question-180989183/The newly found object, estimated to be roughly as massive as Jupiter, orbits a brown dwarf—a "failed star"—which in turn circles a small star. For now, researchers are calling the puzzling body an "exosatellite"Fri, 24 Jul 2026 17:14:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/is-this-giant-celestial-body-a-moon-a-planet-or-something-in-between-the-strange-object-calls-astrononomical-labels-into-question-180989183/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mangroves-are-key-to-coastal-ecosystems-see-20-breathtaking-photos-that-reveal-how-the-trees-support-wildlife-and-face-threats-180989186/The Mangrove Photography Awards honor images that show off the beauty—and the fragility—of these valuable intertidal forestsFri, 24 Jul 2026 15:23:11 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mangroves-are-key-to-coastal-ecosystems-see-20-breathtaking-photos-that-reveal-how-the-trees-support-wildlife-and-face-threats-180989186/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/students-in-florida-discovered-a-400-year-old-intact-pot-that-reveals-conflict-among-indigenous-spanish-and-english-powers-180989188/Archaeology students at the University of Florida discovered the rare vessel at the site of the former Mission San Francisco de Potano, established in 1606 when Florida was under Spanish ruleFri, 24 Jul 2026 14:09:21 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/students-in-florida-discovered-a-400-year-old-intact-pot-that-reveals-conflict-among-indigenous-spanish-and-english-powers-180989188/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-are-these-whales-floating-upside-down-they-might-just-be-moms-who-need-a-break-from-feeding-their-babies-180989184/Each year, southern right whales migrate thousands of miles from their feeding grounds to breed, give birth and raise their young. Taking rests and regulating their calves' nursing schedules might help mothers conserve energy while they're far from foodFri, 24 Jul 2026 13:39:39 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-are-these-whales-floating-upside-down-they-might-just-be-moms-who-need-a-break-from-feeding-their-babies-180989184/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/experimental-alzheimers-drug-that-fights-a-tough-to-target-protein-shows-promise-at-slowing-cognitive-decline-in-a-clinical-trial-180989177/Recently FDA-approved treatments work to clear clumps of the protein amyloid beta in the brain. A drug that instead goes after tangles of the protein tau can yield similar cognitive outcomes, a new study suggestsThu, 23 Jul 2026 19:32:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/experimental-alzheimers-drug-that-fights-a-tough-to-target-protein-shows-promise-at-slowing-cognitive-decline-in-a-clinical-trial-180989177/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/months-after-burglars-stole-crown-jewels-from-the-louvre-the-apollo-gallery-reopens-highlighting-its-origins-as-a-royal-reception-hall-180989182/Museum officials hope visitors will appreciate the gilded hall, conceived by Louis XIV more than 360 years ago, for its history and ornamentation, even without the crown jewelsThu, 23 Jul 2026 19:14:25 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/months-after-burglars-stole-crown-jewels-from-the-louvre-the-apollo-gallery-reopens-highlighting-its-origins-as-a-royal-reception-hall-180989182/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wacky-mysterious-paintings-by-this-surrealist-still-influence-contemporary-artists-an-exhibition-in-london-will-explore-the-legacy-of-rene-magritte-180989181/The Belgian Surrealist was famous for his playful subversion, like when he created a painting of a pipe and then defiantly declared it wasn’t a pipe, after allThu, 23 Jul 2026 17:34:57 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/wacky-mysterious-paintings-by-this-surrealist-still-influence-contemporary-artists-an-exhibition-in-london-will-explore-the-legacy-of-rene-magritte-180989181/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hunter-gatherers-brought-trout-to-a-norwegian-mountain-lake-7000-years-ago-the-earliest-known-example-of-humans-translocating-fish-180989167/Researchers have long known that the animals were introduced into the region's high-altitude bodies of water, but they weren't sure when it happened or whether humans had a hand. Analyses of recently discovered ancient fish traps provide new cluesThu, 23 Jul 2026 15:42:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hunter-gatherers-brought-trout-to-a-norwegian-mountain-lake-7000-years-ago-the-earliest-known-example-of-humans-translocating-fish-180989167/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/would-you-chat-with-an-ai-ghost-of-a-deceased-loved-one-new-research-suggests-that-the-tech-can-provide-comfort-and-closure-180989176/Commercial "griefbots" are becoming more popular, and many experts have questions about their psychological and ethical impacts. A new study aims to ensure that the bots are designed responsiblyThu, 23 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/would-you-chat-with-an-ai-ghost-of-a-deceased-loved-one-new-research-suggests-that-the-tech-can-provide-comfort-and-closure-180989176/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/their-names-were-lost-to-history-but-now-you-can-see-what-their-faces-may-have-looked-like-when-they-lived-in-a-roman-era-city-nearly-2000-years-ago-180989179/A new exhibition in Budapest features 16 facial reconstructions based on skulls excavated from the ancient city of Aquincum. Curators don't know the details of their lives, but they've invented backstories to fill in the gapsThu, 23 Jul 2026 11:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/their-names-were-lost-to-history-but-now-you-can-see-what-their-faces-may-have-looked-like-when-they-lived-in-a-roman-era-city-nearly-2000-years-ago-180989179/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/video-captures-orcas-ramming-a-sunfish-so-hard-it-explodes-the-mysterious-behavior-might-be-a-form-of-play-or-juvenile-care-180989153/In two incidents documented in Mexico’s Gulf of California, orcas worked together to blast sunfish into smithereens after they had killed the enormous animalsThu, 23 Jul 2026 04:00:01 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/video-captures-orcas-ramming-a-sunfish-so-hard-it-explodes-the-mysterious-behavior-might-be-a-form-of-play-or-juvenile-care-180989153/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/aboriginal-spiritual-leaders-performed-magic-healing-cursing-rituals-in-this-australian-cave-for-25000-years-new-research-finds-180989178/Archaeologists collaborated with members of the GunaiKurnai Aboriginal community to explore layers of ash from burned grasses dating back thousands of years inside Cloggs CaveWed, 22 Jul 2026 21:25:07 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/aboriginal-spiritual-leaders-performed-magic-healing-cursing-rituals-in-this-australian-cave-for-25000-years-new-research-finds-180989178/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/kids-can-try-out-the-oliver-twist-lifestyle-at-this-english-museum-revealing-conditions-for-poor-people-in-a-victorian-workhouse-180989175/After a restoration, the Ripon Workhouse Museum reopened to the public, showcasing the sights, sounds and rules of England’s 19th-century “solution to poverty”Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:10:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/kids-can-try-out-the-oliver-twist-lifestyle-at-this-english-museum-revealing-conditions-for-poor-people-in-a-victorian-workhouse-180989175/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/A-spacex-rocket-part-is-expected-to-smack-into-the-moon-in-august-highlighting-the-growing-problem-of-space-junk-180989173/The unintended event also creates an opportunity for scientists and skywatchers to witness lunar impact dynamics in real time, although the debris will hit a sunlit portion of the moon from the perspective of Earth, making it hard to seeWed, 22 Jul 2026 19:44:04 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/A-spacex-rocket-part-is-expected-to-smack-into-the-moon-in-august-highlighting-the-growing-problem-of-space-junk-180989173/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-letter-penned-on-the-titanic-days-before-it-sank-shares-the-perspective-of-the-ships-second-class-passengers-180989174/The letter, now up for auction, describes good weather and bustling activity as the "Titanic" prepared to set off across the Atlantic OceanWed, 22 Jul 2026 17:59:09 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-letter-penned-on-the-titanic-days-before-it-sank-shares-the-perspective-of-the-ships-second-class-passengers-180989174/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/people-arent-born-with-as-righties-or-lefties-they-develop-hand-dominance-with-practice-a-new-study-suggests-180989168/Humans do have a biological preference for using one side of their body, which might prime them for using limbs on that side for complex motor tasks like writing—and honing those skills over timeWed, 22 Jul 2026 16:59:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/people-arent-born-with-as-righties-or-lefties-they-develop-hand-dominance-with-practice-a-new-study-suggests-180989168/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-1950s-airplane-disaster-prompted-the-flight-safety-demonstrations-passengers-know-today-seachers-just-found-the-wreckage-in-the-atlantic-ocean-180989170/A team of explorers used an autonomous underwater vehicle to locate the remains of the Pan American ‘Clipper Endeavor’ about five miles off the coast of Puerto RicoWed, 22 Jul 2026 15:02:37 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-1950s-airplane-disaster-prompted-the-flight-safety-demonstrations-passengers-know-today-seachers-just-found-the-wreckage-in-the-atlantic-ocean-180989170/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/double-puggles-see-the-adorable-twin-echidnas-born-at-the-san-diego-zoo-safari-park-180989165/The two babies hatched this year to one mother during the same breeding season—an extremely rare occurrence, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife AllianceWed, 22 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/double-puggles-see-the-adorable-twin-echidnas-born-at-the-san-diego-zoo-safari-park-180989165/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-world-record-in-the-greased-pole-walk-brought-extra-excitement-to-this-years-world-eskimo-indian-olumpics-in-alaska-180989164/A 45-year-old record fell at the annual sporting event, which celebrates Indigenous athleticism and culture with events including the knuckle hop and the Alaskan high kickWed, 22 Jul 2026 13:42:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-new-world-record-in-the-greased-pole-walk-brought-extra-excitement-to-this-years-world-eskimo-indian-olumpics-in-alaska-180989164/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/british-intelligence-turned-this-mansion-into-a-bugged-spy-trap-for-nazi-prisoners-of-war-during-world-war-ii-180989166/Visitors can now tour the house, where German generals relaxed and gabbed upstairs while Jewish refugees working as spies and translators for the British government listened in from the basementWed, 22 Jul 2026 00:59:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/british-intelligence-turned-this-mansion-into-a-bugged-spy-trap-for-nazi-prisoners-of-war-during-world-war-ii-180989166/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-volunteer-stumbled-upon-a-strange-document-in-the-uk-national-archives-it-turned-out-to-be-a-rare-copy-of-the-declaration-of-independence-printed-in-july-1776-180989169/Michael Scurr, a retired insurance broker, found the text while cataloging boxes of 18th-century correspondence housed at the London archives. It's the only known copy of its kind outside the United StatesTue, 21 Jul 2026 19:23:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-volunteer-stumbled-upon-a-strange-document-in-the-uk-national-archives-it-turned-out-to-be-a-rare-copy-of-the-declaration-of-independence-printed-in-july-1776-180989169/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/naked-mole-rat-queens-emit-a-special-scent-to-stop-their-rivals-from-reproducing-a-new-study-suggests-180989148/The strange-looking creatures are one of two known mammals that use a social structure like that of bees and ants. A ruling rodent maintains power over her colony via one key chemical compound, according to new researchTue, 21 Jul 2026 19:14:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/naked-mole-rat-queens-emit-a-special-scent-to-stop-their-rivals-from-reproducing-a-new-study-suggests-180989148/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/could-life-exist-on-this-nearby-world-in-a-first-astronomers-find-an-atmosphere-on-an-earth-like-exoplanet-in-the-habitable-zone-180989149/While the celestial body seems to host three features that could make a livable environment—an atmosphere, a rocky composition and a temperature that could allow liquid water to sit on the surface—researchers have not currently detected any residentsTue, 21 Jul 2026 16:23:23 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/could-life-exist-on-this-nearby-world-in-a-first-astronomers-find-an-atmosphere-on-an-earth-like-exoplanet-in-the-habitable-zone-180989149/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-amateur-astronomer-using-google-maps-spotted-a-strange-indentation-it-turned-out-to-be-a-meteorite-crater-from-390-million-years-ago-180989158/Scientists confirmed the astronomer’s suspicions with an expedition to the site in Quebec. The discovery offers a rare case of a reported new crater turning out to be realTue, 21 Jul 2026 12:58:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-amateur-astronomer-using-google-maps-spotted-a-strange-indentation-it-turned-out-to-be-a-meteorite-crater-from-390-million-years-ago-180989158/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-tower-of-london-plans-to-turn-its-moat-into-a-green-classroom-and-show-off-its-architecture-archive-in-a-major-renovation-180989161/The landmark, nearly a millennium old, has housed kings, hosted royal executions and safeguarded Britain's crown jewels. New education centers aim to invite more people to learn about that historyMon, 20 Jul 2026 21:36:53 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-tower-of-london-plans-to-turn-its-moat-into-a-green-classroom-and-show-off-its-architecture-archive-in-a-major-renovation-180989161/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-unusual-looking-raccoon-nicknamed-jimothy-is-winning-hearts-across-the-internet-for-his-short-round-body-180989157/Jimothy has become a local celebrity in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood and likely has a rare congenital spine conditionMon, 20 Jul 2026 20:11:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-unusual-looking-raccoon-nicknamed-jimothy-is-winning-hearts-across-the-internet-for-his-short-round-body-180989157/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-man-with-paralysis-has-regained-feeling-and-movement-in-his-hands-after-an-experimental-brain-implant-180989156/After months of training, the patient can now move his arms and hands and feel the sensation of touchMon, 20 Jul 2026 19:35:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-man-with-paralysis-has-regained-feeling-and-movement-in-his-hands-after-an-experimental-brain-implant-180989156/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-womens-pro-baseball-league-teams-are-named-for-these-pioneering-women-giving-female-players-another-league-of-their-own-180989159/The Firebells, Heights, Queens and Hunters—of San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Boston—were inspired by an honorary firefighter, a civil rights activist, a first basewoman and a physicianMon, 20 Jul 2026 19:34:12 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-womens-pro-baseball-league-teams-are-named-for-these-pioneering-women-giving-female-players-another-league-of-their-own-180989159/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/railway-construction-reveals-coin-minted-by-roman-officer-who-proclaimed-himself-emperor-of-the-north-in-britain-1700-years-ago-180989160/Archaeologists in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire unearthed a silver denarius bearing the name of Carausius, who ruled the breakaway state of Britannia between 286 and 293Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:49:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/railway-construction-reveals-coin-minted-by-roman-officer-who-proclaimed-himself-emperor-of-the-north-in-britain-1700-years-ago-180989160/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-the-first-time-in-27-years-a-man-set-a-new-world-record-for-fastest-mile-people-have-chased-the-goal-for-centuries-180989154/British runners in particular have long tried to cross the finish line in less than 4 minutes, records show, sometimes running in the nude or trying to win a betMon, 20 Jul 2026 18:04:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-the-first-time-in-27-years-a-man-set-a-new-world-record-for-fastest-mile-people-have-chased-the-goal-for-centuries-180989154/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thousands-of-kidnapped-africans-died-on-an-island-in-the-atlantic-after-being-rescued-from-slave-ships-evidence-in-their-teeth-traces-their-journeys-180989145/Remains in the graves of St. Helena, where the British military housed "liberated" enslaved Africans, contain isotopes from inland Angola and ZimbabweMon, 20 Jul 2026 16:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thousands-of-kidnapped-africans-died-on-an-island-in-the-atlantic-after-being-rescued-from-slave-ships-evidence-in-their-teeth-traces-their-journeys-180989145/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/koalas-are-at-risk-of-extinction-in-some-parts-of-australia-can-freezing-their-sperm-and-eggs-help-save-the-iconic-marsupials-180989147/Scientists are preserving the animals' reproductive cells in liquid nitrogen in a bid to boost genetic diversity in future populationsMon, 20 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/koalas-are-at-risk-of-extinction-in-some-parts-of-australia-can-freezing-their-sperm-and-eggs-help-save-the-iconic-marsupials-180989147/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/poop-from-southern-right-whales-reveals-that-the-animals-might-be-more-resilient-to-climate-change-than-we-thought-180989131/Scientists long believed that these whales, which swim throughout the Southern Hemisphere, mainly feasted on krill and small crustaceans called copepods, which are disappearing from the warming ocean. A new study suggests that the cetaceans have a more varied, flexible dietMon, 20 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/poop-from-southern-right-whales-reveals-that-the-animals-might-be-more-resilient-to-climate-change-than-we-thought-180989131/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-these-ancient-egyptian-princesses-wield-weapons-and-train-in-martial-arts-just-like-the-men-of-their-time-180989151/A new analysis of their bones suggests they were buried alongside arrows, maces and daggers because they had repeatedly used those weapons in lifeMon, 20 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-these-ancient-egyptian-princesses-wield-weapons-and-train-in-martial-arts-just-like-the-men-of-their-time-180989151/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/luke-skywalkers-lightsaber-and-severed-hand-from-famed-darth-vader-duel-sold-for-a-record-more-than-3-million-at-auction-180989144/The item, which became the most-valued on-screen Star Wars prop ever sold at auction, was born from cast-off parts from a camera shopFri, 17 Jul 2026 21:11:15 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/luke-skywalkers-lightsaber-and-severed-hand-from-famed-darth-vader-duel-sold-for-a-record-more-than-3-million-at-auction-180989144/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-close-up-images-reveal-the-wreckage-of-ernest-shackletons-last-ship-now-draped-in-discarded-fishing-gear-and-teeming-with-life-180989139/The vessel "Quest," found in 2024 off the coast of northeastern Canada, has become a home for corals, anemones and fish. It also holds the leftovers from decades of commercial fishing that happened above it after it sankFri, 17 Jul 2026 16:26:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-close-up-images-reveal-the-wreckage-of-ernest-shackletons-last-ship-now-draped-in-discarded-fishing-gear-and-teeming-with-life-180989139/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-orange-lipped-likweli-monkey-a-new-species-that-was-discovered-in-the-congo-rainforest-180989140/The creatures, which weigh about the same as a small dog, have spiky black hair, orange-cream skin around their mouths and a white patch on their rear ends. Scientists say that they're probably endangeredFri, 17 Jul 2026 14:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/meet-the-orange-lipped-likweli-monkey-a-new-species-that-was-discovered-in-the-congo-rainforest-180989140/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-16-splendid-aerial-views-capture-wildlife-from-above-revealing-the-beauty-and-mystery-of-nature-180989141/The second International Aerial Photographer of the Year contest selected its winners and 101 top images. Here’s a selection of the photos that spotlight animals from a new perspectiveFri, 17 Jul 2026 13:36:40 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/these-16-splendid-aerial-views-capture-wildlife-from-above-revealing-the-beauty-and-mystery-of-nature-180989141/